Tackling judicial appointments

CHEERS TO VERA Files for its three-part special on judicial appointments.

“The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is now the focus of national attention as it begins the process of recommending a replacement for ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. The process, if done right, is expected to help restore public confidence in the High Tribunal,” VERA Files began its special on June 11. But the JBC, it said, is partly to blame for the problems in the judiciary and thus needs reforming itself. (“JBC partly to blame for problems in judiciary”)

The second part of the special looked at the President’s immense power over judicial appointments. Abuse of this power, which former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo allegedly did to protect her interests,  pose serious problems. (“Few limits to president’s power of judicial appointment”, June 12)

The third part proposed reforms in the appointment process to make a better judiciary, among the proposals  is to limit congressional interference, imposing term limits for regular members, and allowing live media coverage during JBC’s public interviews of candidates. (“For better judiciary, reforms in appointment process needed”, June 13)