Midas Marquez appointed as Supreme Court Justice

COURT Administrator Jose Midas Marquez yesterday became the 18^thappointee of President Duterte to the Supreme Court.

Marquez’ appointment papers from Malacañang were officially received by the Supreme Court past noon and was scheduled to take his oath at 3p.m. yesterday.

“We confirm the receipt of the appointment papers of Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez. His oathtaking is scheduled at 3pm this afternoon,” SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka told mediamen.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) had been nominating Marquez name in the shortlist of nominees for SC vacancies since 2018 but failed to get the Palace nod.

Marquez started his career as a clerk at the Supreme Court and rose from the ranks being staff of several justices and chief justices. 

He served as court administrator for almost 12  years, longer than retired Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco who served as Court Administrator for five years prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court.

Marquez assumed the post left by Associate Justice Edgardo delos Santos who opted for an optional retirement effective June 30, 2021. 

Santos cited his state of health as his reason for leaving his post one year before he was supposed to officially retire on June 12, 2022 when he turns 70.

Last September, appointed Court of Appeals Associate Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao,  the second Muslim to be High-Tribunal since the time of the late President Corazon Aquino.

Dimaampao was appointed to fill up the post that was left open following the appointment of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo as the country’s top magistrate.

When asked about Marquez’ likely replacement as Court Administrator, Hosaka said the Chief Justice and the Court en banc have yet to release a name.

“I cannot surmise as to who will be the next Court Administrator or the acting Court Administrator. Let us wait for the choice of the Chief Justice and the En Banc. As per the law which created the OCA (Office of the Court Administrator), the Court Administrator is appointed by the CJ,” Hosaka explained.

“However, since the same also provides that the Court Ad may be removed by a vote of not less than 8 SC justices, traditionally the imprimatur of the En Banc as to the choice of the Court Ad is also sought,” he added.