SC clarifies ban on lower court appointments stands By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/31/2010

SC clarifies ban on lower court appointments stands

By Benjamin B. Pulta 03/31/2010 The Supreme Court (SC) sought to restrain President Arroyo from appointing anyone to the judiciary on the lower court level following a Malacañang aide’s claim that the high court, in its ruling vesting Arroyo with the authority to appoint the next Chief Justice, with the scheduled retirement on May 17, by issuing a strong clarification on the issue. New lower court judges cannot be named by the Palace during the election period ban on midnight appointments, SC spokesman Midas Marquez insisted yesterday. Justice Secretary Alberto Agra earlier said that the President can appoint trial court judges despite a ban on midnight appointments. Agra cited that this was the logical result of a recent controversial ruling allowing her to name the next chief justice.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100331hed5.html

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