Case decongestion, technology-driven judiciary top Gesmundo's five-year plan

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will focus on case decongestion and creating a technology-driven judiciary during his five-year term as the country’s top magistrate.

Speaking at the online celebration of the 60th founding anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) on Sunday, Gesmundo said the Court amended its internal rules to comply with the constitutional mandate of two years for the resolution of cases. 

“Other courts had rationalized their procedures in order to respond to the problem of case delay and docket congestion. In 2018, the Sandiganbayan and even earlier, the Court of Tax Appeals, streamlined  their processes to expedite the resolution of cases before them,” he said.

Trial courts were also urged to prioritize the disposition of long-pending cases, especially those involving juveniles, senior citizens, and women.

“We will also monitor the movements of cases where TROs (temporary restraining orders) were issued on government infrastructure projects, expropriation cases, and cases that have high impact on business,” he said.

Gesmundo added the SC also mandated that the lawyer’s signature certifies to the courts that the case is filed “not for any improper purpose.”

“By incorporating this in our Rules, we hope to put a stop to the  abhorrent practice by lawyers of giving our people false hopes through the filing of cases which serve no other purpose but to clog the dockets  of our courts,” he said.

He also mentioned the SC’s latest rule mandating the use by the police of body-worn cameras in the implementation of warrants.

Gesmundo said he intends to develop and establish an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Infrastructure for the judiciary.

This includes the establishment of an E-Court System to enhance court workflow processes and increase virtual access to the courts, along with the use of artificial intelligence for court operations to promote efficiency in work processes.

The top magistrate also eyed the creation of an SC portal with links to the different courts for the filing of pleadings and the conduct of online hearings.

“Soon too, the Judiciary ePayment Solution will be operational. It  will allow litigants to directly pay court fees online using credit card, online banking, digital wallet, among other modes and channels of  payment,” he said.

“Surely, technology will play a very important role in our court  system so we must be ready to adapt and improve ourselves on this  aspect. To this end, we exhort not only our justices, judges, and court  employees, but also the members of the legal profession to adapt to  technology so the Court can best continue with its duty of dispensing  justice swiftly,” he added.

He also tackled the creation of the SC human rights committee to look into the killings of members of the legal profession, assessment of the status of the country’s legal education system, and underscored the importance of selecting competent judges.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Gesmundo as chief justice in April. He will be at the helm of the judiciary until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on November 6, 2026.  —KBK, GMA News