Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

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An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only one of the 15 votes in the court. Traditionally, the Chief Justice is deemed primus inter pares ("first among equals") among the Justices.

Until 1973, only men were appointed as Associate Justices to the Court. Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, an appointee of President Ferdinand Marcos, was the first woman to sit on the Court. Since then, 13 other women have been appointed as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.

Constitutional requirements and limitations

Under the 1987 Constitution, the minimum requirements for appointment to the Supreme Court are natural born citizenship; 40 years of age; and 15 years or more as a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines. (sec. 7(1), Article VIII) The members of the Court are appointed by the President from a list of at least 3 nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council. (sec. 9, Article VIII) The appointment is not subject to confirmation by Congress.

Members of the Court are mandated to retire upon reaching the age of 70. (sec. 11, Article VIII) They may also be removed from office through impeachment, which is accomplished through a resolution of impeachment affirmed by a 1/3 vote of all members of the House of Representatives and conviction by 2/3 vote of all members of the Senate.

Since 1901, there has always been only one Chief Justice. In contrast, the number of Associate Justices has wildly varied. From the original number of six (1901–1916), this was increased to eight (1916–1935), then to ten (1935–1940). During the years 1940-1945, the membership varied from five to seven. After liberation in 1945, the number was reset to ten, and the current number of fourteen was first set in place with the enactment of the 1973 Constitution. During the first few months of the Aquino administration, ten Associate Justices sat on the Court, but the appointment of Carolina Griño-Aquino in February 1988 finally restored the number of Associate Justices at fourteen.

Official functions

The cases decided by the Supreme Court involve several classes of disputes. Most prominently, the Court is called upon to exercise the power of judicial review of presidential or legislative actions. More often, the Court also undertakes appellate review of decisions of the trial courts and the Court of Appeals in civil and criminal cases. The Court is also tasked with deciding administrative cases involving members and employees of the judiciary and of lawyers belonging to the Philippine Bar. The decisions of the Court become part of the law of the land.

Each Justice carries one vote on the Court which they exercise whether when sitting in Division, or in the full complement of 15 (or "en banc"). Since the 1970s, the Supreme Court has sat in three divisions, with five Justices as members of each division. As most Supreme Court cases are decided by the division rather than the en banc, a vote of three Justices sitting in a division is usually sufficient to decide the case. However, the Constitution prescribes instances whereby a case must be decided en banc, such as in declaring a law as unconstitutional or when a judicial precedent is overturned. Each vote can be crucial, as recently shown in the 2006 People's Initiative case (Lambino v. COMELEC), which was decided en banc by an 8-7 vote.

As a case is decided, one justice in the majority is assigned to write the majority opinion for the Court. Even as these decisions speak in behalf of the Court, the writer of the opinion (known as the "ponente") is strongly identified with the decision, and the body of opinions of each Justice enhances his/her reputation. Many important opinions are analyzed in law schools and are well-remembered long after the Justice had left the Court. For example, several of the opinions of Associate Justice Jose P. Laurel were crucial in the development of Philippine jurisprudence and are widely read and quoted nearly 70 years after they had been written.

Any other Justice, whether they be in the majority or in the minority, is entitled to write a separate opinion in a case to clarify his/her views, or even to challenge the points raised in the majority opinion. In the 1973 case of Javellana v. Executive Secretary, concerning the ratification of the 1973 Constitution, each Justice chose to write a separate opinion, while more recently, the 2005 decision on the Expanded VAT Law (Abakada v. Executive Secretary) saw 11 separate opinions. The separate opinions of a Justice in the majority is usually known as a "concurring opinion", while one penned by a Justice in the minority is known as a "dissenting opinion". A Justice who only partially agrees with the majority opinion while disagreeing with portions thereof may even write a "concurring and dissenting opinion".

While these separate opinions do not receive as much public attention as majority opinions, they are usually studied in the legal academe and by other judges. On several occasions, views expressed in a dissenting or concurring opinion were adopted by the Supreme Court in later years. Justice Gregorio Perfecto, whose staunch libertarian views were out of sync with the Cold War era, wrote over 140 dissenting opinions in just 4 years. Years after his death, some of his views in dissent, such as in Moncado v. People's Court (1948) were adopted by a more liberal Supreme Court.

The rule of seniority

The Associate Justices of the Court are usually ordered according to the date of their appointment. There are no official ramifications as to this ranking, although the order determines the seating arrangement on the bench and is duly considered in all matters of protocol. Within the discretion of the Court, the ranking may also factor into the composition of the divisions of the Court.

In 1986, the order of seniority in the Court was modified upon the assumption to the presidency of Corazon C. Aquino. President Aquino had sought to reorganize the Court by obtaining the resignation of most of the Associate Justices who had been appointed by Ferdinand Marcos, and filling those vacancies with her own choices. Eventually, Aquino chose to re-appoint three Marcos-appointed Justices: Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, Hugo Gutierrez, Jr. and Nestor Alampay, but did so only after appointing several new Justices to the Court. The previous service of these three were not considered for the purposes of determining seniority. This point would cause a minor controversy in 1992. During that time, it was advocated in some sectors that Herrera, as the longest serving incumbent Associate Justice, was more qualified to succeed the resigned Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan than Andres Narvasa, who was considered as the Senior Associate Justice despite having been appointed to the Court 7 years after Melencio-Herrera. President Aquino eventually appointed Narvasa over Herrera.

The incumbent Justice with the earliest date of appointment is deemed the Senior Associate Justice. While the Senior Associate Justice has no constitutional or statutory duties, he or she usually acts as Acting Chief Justice during the absence of the Chief Justice. The Senior Associate Justice is also usually designated as the chairperson of the second division of the Court.

The following became Senior Associate Justices in their tenure in the Supreme Court

• Antonio T. Carpio (Appointed in 2001, 2009 – Present) (retiring 26 October 2019)
• Leonardo A. Quisumbing (Appointed in 1998, 2007 – 2009)
• Reynato S. Puno (appointed in 1993, 2003 – 2007, Appointed Chief Justice in 2005)
• Josue N. Bellosillo (Appointed in 1992, 1999 – 2003)
• Flerida Ruth P. Romero (Appointed in 1991, 1998 – 1999)
• Florenz D. Regalado (Appointed in 1988, 1997 – 1998)
• Teodoro R. Padilla (Appointed in 1987, 1994 – 1997)
• Isagani A. Cruz (Appointed in 1986, 1993 – 1994)
• Hugo Gutierrez Jr. (Appointed in 1982 and reappointed in 1986, 1991 – 1993)
• Andres R. Narvasa (Appointed in 1986, 1986 - 1991, Appointed Chief Justice in 1991)
• Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera (Appointed in 1979, 1986)
• Claudio Teehankee Sr. (Appointed in 1968, 1979 – 1986, appointed Chief Justice in 1986)
• Enrique M. Fernando Sr. (Appointed in 1967, 1976 – 1979)
• Fred Ruiz Castro (appointed in 1966, 1975 – 1976, Appointed Chief Justice in 1976)
• Roberto Regala (Appointed in 1962, 1973 - 1975)
• Querube C. Makalintal (Appointed in 1962, 1972 – 1973, Appointed Chief Justice in 1973)
• Jose B. L. Reyes (Appointed in 1954, 1966 – 1972)
• Roberto R. Concepcion Jr. (Appointed in 1954, 1964 – 1966, Appointed Chief Justice in 1966)
• Sabino B. Padilla (Appointed in 1945, 1961– 1964)
• César F. Bengzon (Appointed in 1945, 1953 – 1961, Appointed Chief Justice in 1961)
• Felicisimo R. Feria (Appointed in 1945, 1951 – 1953)
• Ricardo M. Parás Jr. (Appointed in 1941, 1950 – 1951, Appointed Chief Justice in 1951)
• Roman Ozaeta (Appointed in 1941, 1945 – 1950)
• Manuel Moran (Appointed in 1938, 1942 – 1945, Appointed Chief Justice in 1945)
• José P. Laurel Sr. (Appointed in 1936, 1941 – 1942, became President in 1943)
• José Abad Santos (Appointed in 1932, 1940 – 1941, Appointed Chief Justice in 1941)
• Antonio Villa-Real (Appointed in 1925, 1936 – 1940)
• George A. Malcolm (Appointed in 1917, 1936 – 1936)
• Thomas A. Street (Appointed in 1917, 1933 – 1935)
• Elias Finley Johnson {Appointed in 1903, 1920 – 1933}
• Florentino Torres (Appointed in 1901, 1901 – 1920)

Becoming Chief Justice

Only two persons appointed as Chief Justice had not previously served as Associate Justices. These were Cayetano Arellano, the first Chief Justice, and Jose Yulo, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives who was appointed as Chief Justice during the Japanese period. All other Chief Justices, except for Victorino Mapa, were incumbent Associate Justices at the time of their appointment as Chief Justice. Mapa had served as Associate Justice from 1901 to 1913, when he was appointed as Secretary of Justice. Mapa would be appointed as Chief Justice in 1920.

Another tradition, though less stringently observed, was that the most senior Associate Justice would be appointed as Chief Justice upon a permanent vacancy to that post. Deviations from this tradition, especially in recent years, have caused some controversy. Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, who had emerged as a fervent critic of Ferdinand Marcos, was twice bypassed for Chief Justice by Marcos. More recently, in 2005, the appointment of Artemio Panganiban as Chief Justice over Senior Associate Justice Reynato Puno was also the subject of some controversy. Puno was eventually appointed as Chief Justice in 2006. Another contender for Chief Justice in 2006 was Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Had Santiago been appointed Chief Justice, she would have been the first person since Jose Yulo in 1942 to have been appointed Chief without serving as Associate Justice. When Justice Renato Corona assumed as Chief Justice on May 17, 2010, the most senior Associate Justice was Antonio Carpio, who was appointed to the Court in October 2001, 6 months before Corona's own appointment.

List of Associate Justices of the Supreme Court

#	Justice	Life dates (Age)'{Longevity)	Start of term	End of term	Replacing	Chief Justices	Chief Executive
1	Cayetano Arellano	March 2, 1847 — December 23, 1920 (73 years, 296 days) (26959 days)	June 11, 1901	April 12, 1920 (18 years, 306 days) (6880 days)	Newly created seat	First Chief Justice	William Howard Taft
2	Florentino Torres	October 16, 1844 – April 29, 1927 (82 years, 195 days) (30144 days)	June 17, 1901	April 20, 1920 (18 years, 308 days) (6882 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
3	Victorino Mapa	February 25, 1855 – April 12, 1927 (72 years, 48 days) (26040 days)	June 17, 1901	October 31, 1913 (12 years, 136 days) (4519 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
4	James Francis Smith	January 28, 1859 – June 29, 1928 (69 years, 153 days) (25354 days)	June 17, 1901	February 17, 1903 (1 year, 255 days) (620 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
5	Joseph F. Cooper	March 30, 1854 – April 18, 1942 (88 years, 19 days) (31795 days)	June 17, 1901	October 17, 1904 (3 years, 122 days) (1218 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
6	Charles A. Willard	May 21, 1857 – March 13, 1914 (1,923 years, 19 days) (31795 days)	June 17, 1901	April 24, 1904 (2 years, 312 days) (1042 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
7	Fletcher Ladd	December 21, 1862 – December 12, 1903 (40 years, 356 days) (14965 days)	June 17, 1901	July 13, 1903 (2 years, 26 days) (756 days)		Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
8	John T. McDonough	July 12, 1843 – October 12, 1907 (63 years, 280 days) (31795 days)	February 18, 1903	May 1, 1904 (1 year, 63 days) (428 days)	James Francis Smith	Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
9	Elias Finley Johnson	June 24, 1861 – August 1, 1933 (72 years, 39 days) (26330 days)	October 3, 1903	April 1, 1933 (29 years, 182 days) (10775 days)	Fletcher Ladd	Cayetano Arellano	William Howard Taft
10	Adam Clarke Carson	January 14, 1869 – May 23, 1941 (72 years, 129 days) (23574 days)	November 16, 1904	November 30, 1920 (16 years, 6 days) (5850 days)	Charles A. Willard	Cayetano Arellano	Luke Edward Wright
11	James F. Tracy	March 30, 1854 – September 19, 1925 (72 years, 129 days) (23574 days)	July 1, 1905	July 2, 1909 (4 years, 1 day) (1462 days)	John T. Mcdonough	Cayetano Arellano	Luke Edward Wright
12	Sherman Moreland	October 16, 1868 – December 27, 1951 (83 years, 72 days) (30386 days)	February 1, 1909	April 23, 1917 (8 years, 81 days) (3003 days)		Cayetano Arellano	James Francis Smith
13	Charles Burke Elliott	January 6, 1861 – September 18, 1935 (74 years, 249 days) (27276 days)	June 3, 1909	February 13, 1910 (1 year, 12 days) (377 days)		Cayetano Arellano	James Francis Smith
14	Grant T. Trent	3 August 1860 – May 4, 1947 (86 years, 274 days) (31683 days)	February 28, 1910	April 23, 1917 (7 years, 44 days) (2601 days)	Charles Burke Elliott	Cayetano Arellano	William Cameron Forbes
15	Manuel Araullo	January 1, 1853 – July 26, 1924 (71 years, 207 days) (26138 days)	December 16, 1913	October 31, 1921 (7 years, 319 days) (2876 days)	Victorino Mapa	Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
16	Thomas A. Street	March 14, 1872 – March 17, 1936 (64 years, 3 days) (23378 days)	June 13, 1917	June 1, 1935 (17 years, 323 days) (6532 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
17	George A. Malcolm	November 5, 1881 – May 16, 1961 (79 years, 192 days) (29046 days)	July 9, 1917	February 1, 1936 (18 years, 207 days) (6781 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
18	Ramón Avanceña	April 13, 1872 – June 12, 1957 (85 years, 58 days) (31103 days)	October 31, 1917	March 31, 1925 (7 years, 151 days) (6781 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
19	Frederich Charles Fisher	16 January 1879 – 17 August 1964 (85 years, 214 days) (31259 days)	November 17, 1917	November 16, 1918 (−1 day) (−1 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
20	Percy M. Moir	February 24, 1870 — February 21, 1928 (57 years, 362 days) (21180 days)	November 25, 1918	November 20, 1920 (1 year, 361 days) (726 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
21	Ignacio Villamor	February 1, 1863 - May 23, 1933 (70 years, 111 days) (25678 days)	May 19, 1920	May 25, 1933 (12 years, 361 days) (4744 days)		Cayetano Arellano	Francis Burton Harrison
22	James A. Ostrand	January 20, 1871 — April 15, 1937 (70 years, 111 days) (25678 days)	September 27, 1921	June 30, 1933 (11 years, 240 days) (4744 days)		Victorino Mapa	Charles Yeater
23	Charles A. Johns	June 25, 1857 – January 11, 1932 (74 years, 200 days) (27227 days)	October 7, 1921	January 11, 1932 (10 years, 96 days) (3748 days)	Percy M. Moir	Victorino Mapa	Charles Yeater
24	Norberto Romualdez	June 6, 1875 – November 4, 1941 (66 years, 151 days) (24257 days)	November 1, 1921	April 1, 1932 (10 years, 152 days) (3804 days)	Manuel Araullo	Manuel Araullo	Leonard Wood
25	Antonio Villareal	January 17, 1880 — February 12, 1945 (65 years, 26 days) (23767 days)	June 16, 1925	June 5, 1940 (14 years, 355 days) (3804 days)	Ramón Avanceña	Ramón Avanceña	Leonard Wood
26	John A. Hull	August 7, 1874 – April 17, 1944 (69 years, 254 days) (25455 days)	June 1, 1932	February 1, 1936 (14 years, 355 days) (6791 days)	Charles A. Johns	Ramón Avanceña	Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
27	James C. Vickers	August 5, 1877 – January 28, 1945 (67 years, 176 days) (24647 days)	June 1, 1932	February 1, 1936 (3 years, 245 days) (1340 days)		Ramón Avanceña	Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
28	José Abad Santos	February 19, 1886 - May 2, 1942	June 18, 1932	December 23, 1941	Norberto Romualdez	Ramón Avanceña	Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
29	Carlos A. Imperial	November 4, 1880	June 22, 1932	May 20, 1941		Ramón Avanceña	Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
30	George C. Butte	May 9, 1877 - January 18, 1940	July 1, 1932	February 1, 1936		Ramón Avanceña	Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
31	Anacleto Diaz	November 20, 1878 - January 18, 1940	November 20, 1933	December 19, 1941		Ramón Avanceña	Frank Murphy
32	Leonard S. Goddard	January 29, 1871–June 6, 1959	January 9, 1934	January 29, 1936		Ramón Avanceña	Frank Murphy
33	Claro M. Recto	February 8, 1890 - October 2, 1960	July 3, 1935	November 1, 1936		Ramón Avanceña	Frank Murphy
34	José P. Laurel	March 9, 1891 - November 6, 1959	February 29, 1936	February 5, 1942		Ramón Avanceña	Manuel L. Quezon
35	Pedro Concepción	April 18, 1893–May 11, 1969	October 31, 1936	January 1, 1940		Ramón Avanceña	Manuel L. Quezon
36	Manuel V. Moran	October 27, 1893 - August 23, 1961	December 12, 1938	July 9, 1945		Ramón Avanceña	Manuel L. Quezon
37	Roman Ozaeta	February 28, 1891&ndasj;July 19, 1973	June 24, 1941	October 16, 1950	Antonio Villareal	Ramón Avanceña	Manuel L. Quezon
38	Ricardo Parás	February 17, 1891 – October 10, 1984 (93 years, 236 days) (34194 days)	December 28, 1941	April 1, 1951 (9 years, 94 days) (3381 days)		José Abad Santos	Manuel L. Quezon
39	José Yulo	September 24, 1894 – October 27, 1976	February 5, 1942	May 7, 1942		José Abad Santos	Manuel L. Quezon
40	Jorge C. Bocobo	October 19, 1886–July 23, 1965	February 5, 1942	January 31, 1944		José Abad Santos	Manuel L. Quezon
41	Jose Generoso	December 19, 1890–April 14, 1976	May 11, 1942	July 15, 1948		José Yulo	Manuel L. Quezon
42	Jose Lopez Vito	May 12, 1872 - May 7, 1947	May 11, 1942	January 31, 1944		José Yulo	Manuel L. Quezon
42-A	Domingo Imperial	August 4 1890 - July 19, 1965	May 11, 1942	January 31, 1944		José Yulo	Manuel L. Quezon
43	Antonio Horrilleno	February 13, 1878- September 5, 1964	July 1, 1943	August 17, 1945		José Yulo	Manuel L. Quezon
44	Delfin Jaranilla	December 24, 1883 – June 4, 1980 (96 years, 302 days) (35226 days)	June 6, 1945	June 6, 1946 (1 year, 0 days) (365 days)		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
45	Felicisimo R. Feria	August 6, 1883-June 2, 1957	June 6, 1945	August 6, 1953		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
46	Mariano H. De Joya	September 8, 1887-July 5, 1964	June 6, 1945	June 25, 1945		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
47	Guillermo Pablo	June 25, 1886 – August 2, 1992 (106 years, 38 days) (38647 days)	June 6, 1945	June 4, 1955 (9 years, 363 days) (3650 days)		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
48	Gregorio Perfecto	November 28, 1891 – August 17, 1949	June 6, 1945	August 17, 1949		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
49	Emilio Y. Hilado	November 1, 1891- October 25, 1967	June 6, 1945	May 31, 1948		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
50	Jose A. Espiritu	April 10, 1886 – May 30, 1982 (96 years, 50 days) (35113 days)	June 6, 1945	August 15, 1945 (70 days) (70 days)		José Yulo	José P. Laurel Sergio Osmeña
51	Manuel C. Briones	January 1, 1893 – September 29, 1957	September 15, 1945	May 24, 1949		Manuel V. Moran	Sergio Osmeña
52	César Bengzon	May 29, 1896 – September 3, 1992 (96 years, 97 days) (35160 days)	September 15, 1945	April 28, 1961 (15 years, 225 days) (5714 days)		Manuel V. Moran	Sergio Osmeña
53	Sabino B. Padilla	August 21, 1894 – June 15, 1986 (91 years, 298 days) (33535 days)	June 25, 1946	August 21, 1964 (18 years, 67 days) (6642 days)		Manuel V. Moran	Manuel Roxas
54	Pedro Tuazon	September 15, 1884-June 28, 1961	June 25, 1946	January 4, 1954		Manuel V. Moran	Manuel Roxas
55	Jose Hontiveros	March 19, 1889-May 21, 1954	June 25, 1946	October 16, 1947		Manuel V. Moran	Manuel Roxas
56	Alejandro A. Reyes	June 4, 1899-July 23, 1960	August 6, 1948	June 3, 1959	Jose Generoso	Manuel V. Moran	Elpidio Quirino
57	Marcelino R. Montemayor	July 27, 1890-September 11, 1971	August 21, 1948	July 27, 1960		Manuel V. Moran	Elpidio Quirino
58	Luis P. Torres	April 8, 1880 - January 9, 1959	August 20, 1949	April 1, 1950		Manuel V. Moran	Elpidio Quirino
59	Felix Angelo Bautista	May 20, 1896-April 11, 1990	October 20, 1950	May 20, 1956		Manuel V. Moran	Elpidio Quirino
60	Fernando Jugo	May 14, 1891 - June 3, 1956	October 20, 1950	June 3, 1956		Manuel V. Moran	Elpidio Quirino
61	Alejo Labrador	July 17, 1894 - March 15, 1967	April 22, 1952	July 17, 1964		Ricardo Parás	Elpidio Quirino
62	Roberto Concepcion	June 7, 1903 – May 3, 1987	February 9, 1954	June 17, 1966		Ricardo Parás	Ramon Magsaysay
63	Ramon Diokno	March 28, 1886 - April 21, 1954	February 10, 1954	April 21, 1954		Ricardo Parás	Ramon Magsaysay
64	Jose B. L. Reyes	August 19, 1902 – December 27, 1994	June 30, 1954	August 19, 1972	Ramon Diokno	Ricardo Parás	Ramon Magsaysay
65	Pastor M. Endencia	July 26, 1890-July 22, 1981	December 20, 1955	July 26, 1960		Ricardo Parás	Ramon Magsaysay
66	Alfonso Felix	September 17, 1888 - 7 April 1975	July 24, 1956	September 17, 1958		Ricardo Parás	Ramon Magsaysay
67	Jesus G. Barrera	December 18, 1896-August 28, 1988	June 5, 1959	December 18, 1966		Ricardo Parás	Carlos P. García
68	Jose Gutierrez David	January 29, 1891 - September 19, 1893	August 28, 1959	January 29, 1961		Ricardo Parás	Carlos P. García
69	Arsenio Dizon	October 5, 1901 - January 30, 1990	July 26, 1960	October 5, 1971		Ricardo Parás	Carlos P. García
70	Jose Ma. Paredes	August 15, 1895-December 5, 1990	August 18, 1960	August 15, 1965		Ricardo Parás	Carlos P. García
71	Dionisio De Leon	April 8, 1892	April 28, 1961	April 8, 1962		César Bengzon	Carlos P. García
72	Felipe Natividad	September 20, 1891	April 8, 1962	September 20, 1962		César Bengzon	Diosdado Macapagal
73	Roberto Regala	June 7, 1897	May 23, 1962	December 22, 1975		César Bengzon	Diosdado Macapagal
74	Querube Makalintal	December 22, 1910	May 23, 1962	October 21, 1973		César Bengzon	Diosdado Macapagal
75	Calixto Zaldivar	September 13, 1904	September 12, 1964	September 13, 1974	Alejo Labrador	César Bengzon	Diosdado Macapagal
76	Jose P. Bengzon	May 5, 1898	September 12, 1964	May 5, 1968	Sabino B. Padilla	César Bengzon	Diosdado Macapagal
77	Conrado V. Sanchez	February 19, 1900	May 29, 1966	February 19, 1970		César Bengzon	Ferdinand Marcos
78	Fred Ruiz Castro	September 2, 1914 - April 19, 1979 (64 years, 229 days) (23605} days)	May 29, 1966	January 5, 1976		César Bengzon	Ferdinand Marcos
79	Eugenio Angeles	November 2, 1898 – November 4, 1977 (79 years, 3 days) (28857} days)	June 30, 1967	November 2, 1968		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
80	Enrique Fernando	July 25, 1915 - October 13, 2004 (89 years, 80 days) (23605} days)	June 30, 1967	July 1, 1979		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
81	Francisco Capistrano	October 6, 1899	September 16, 1968	October 6, 1969		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
82	Claudio Teehankee	April 18, 1918	December 17, 1968	April 1, 1986	Eugenio Angeles	Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
83	Antonio P. Barredo	October 1, 1912	December 17, 1968	October 4, 1982		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
84	Julio Villamor	April 12, 1902	January 24, 1970	April 12, 1972		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
85	Felix Makasiar	November 20, 1915	August 2, 1970	July 25, 1985	Conrado V. Sanchez	Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
86	Felix Q. Antonio	May 18, 1911	June 1972	May 18, 1980		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
87	Salvador V. Esguerra	June 19, 1906	June 1972	June 19, 1976		Roberto Concepcion	Ferdinand Marcos
88	Estanislao A. Fernandez	March 28, 1910	October 19, 1973	March 28, 1975	Jose B. L. Reyes	Querube Makalintal	Ferdinand Marcos
89	Cecilia Muñoz-Palma	November 22, 1913 - January 2, 2006 (92 years, 41 days) (33644 days)	October 29, 1973	November 22, 1978	Newly created seat	Querube Makalintal	Ferdinand Marcos
90	Ramon Aquino	August 31, 1917 - March 31, 1993 (75 years, 212 days) (27606 days)	October 29, 1973	November 19, 1985	Newly created seat	Querube Makalintal	Ferdinand Marcos
91	Hermogenes Concepcion Jr.	April 7, 1920 - November 2018	April 18, 1975	January 10, 1978	Calixto Zaldivar	Querube Makalintal	Ferdinand Marcos
92	Ruperto G. Martin	March 27, 1913	April 18, 1975	January 10, 1978	Estanislao A. Fernandez	Querube Makalintal	Ferdinand Marcos
93	Guillermo S. Santos	January 23, 1915	May 27, 1977	January 23, 1980		Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos
94	Ramon C. Fernandez	February 16, 1916	May 27, 1977	May 11, 1982		Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos
95	Juvenal K. Guerrero	November 4, 1916	May 11, 1977	November 4, 1984		Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos
96	Vicente Abad Santos	July 12, 1916 - December 30, 1993 (77 years, 171 days) (28295} days)	January 17, 1979	July 12, 1986	Fred Ruiz Castro	Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos
97	Pacifico P. De Castro	July 16, 1915	January 17, 1979	May 31, 1984		Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos
98	Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera	May 11, 1922 (97 years, 165 days) (35594 days)	January 17, 1979	May 11, 1992 (13 years, 115 days) (4863 days)	Cecilia Muñoz-Palma	Fred Ruiz Castro	Ferdinand Marcos (1979) Corazon Aquino (1986)
99	Vicente G. Ericta	February 3, 1915 - February 7, 2007 (92 years, 15 days) (33618} days)	November 20, 1981	May 11, 1982		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
100	Efren I. Plana	June 28, 1928 – 19 December 2012 (84 years, 174 days) (30855 days)	November 20, 1981	April 16, 1986 (4 years, 117 days) (1578 days)		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
101	Venicio T. Escolin	February 13, 1921 – March 29, 2008 (87 years, 45 days) (31821 days)	November 20, 1981	April 15, 1986		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
102	Conrado M. Vasquez	September 13, 1913 – September 19, 2006 (93 years, 6 days) (33974 days)	May 14, 1982	September 30, 1983	Ramon C. Fernandez	Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
103	Lorenzo Relova	January 20, 1916 – April 23, 2014 (98 years, 93 days) (35888 days)	May 14, 1982	January 19, 1986		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
104	Hugo Gutierrez Jr.	January 29, 1927 – June 12, 2013 (86 years, 134 days) (31535 days)	May 14, 1982	March 31, 1993		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos(1979) Corazon Aquino (1986)
105	Buenaventura S. De La Fuente	July 14, 1922	February 28, 1984	March 6, 1986	Conrado M. Vasquez	Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
106	Serafin R. Cuevas	June 25, 1928 – February 9, 2014 (85 years, 229 days) (31275 days)	June 1, 1984	April 16, 1986		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
107	Nestor B. Alampay	February 17, 1920 – December 2, 1995 (75 years, 288 days) (27682 days)	January 24, 1985	March 17, 1986		Enrique Fernando	Ferdinand Marcos
108	Lino M. Patajo	September 23, 1916	July 31, 1985	April 16, 1986		Felix Makasiar	Ferdinand Marcos
109	Jose Feria	January 11, 1917 – May 8, 2008 (91 years, 118 days) (33355 days)	April 7, 1986	January 10, 1987	Felix Makasiar	Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
110	Pedro Yap	July 1, 1918 – November 20, 2003 (85 years, 142 days) (31188 days)	April 8, 1986	April 18, 1988	Leo D. Medialdea	Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
111	Marcelo Fernan	October 24, 1926 - July 11, 1999 (72 years, 260 days) (26558 days)	April 9, 1986	June 30, 1988		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
112	Andres Narvasa	November 30, 1928 - October 31, 2013 (84 years, 335 days) (31016 days)	April 10, 1986	December 7, 1991		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
113	Isagani A. Cruz	October 11, 1924 - March 21, 2013 (88 years, 161 days) (32303 days)	April 16, 1986	October 11, 1994		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
114	Edgardo L. Paras	July 4, 1922 - September 3, 1994 (72 years, 61 days) (26359 days)	April 16, 1986	July 4, 1992		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
115	Florentino P. Feliciano	March 14, 1928 - December 15, 2015 (87 years, 246 days) (32022 days)	August 8, 1986	December 13, 1995		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
116	Teodoro R. Padilla	August 24, 1927 - September 15, 1999 (72 years, 22 days) (26320 days)	January 12, 1987	August 22, 1997		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
117	Abdulwahid A. Bidin	April 7, 1925 - February 2, 1999 (73 years, 301 days) (26964 days)	January 12, 1987	May 7, 1995		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
118	Emilio A. Gancayco	August 20, 1921 – July 27, 2009 (87 years, 341 days) (32118 days)	January 12, 1987	August 20, 1991		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
119	Abraham F. Sarmiento	October 8, 1921 – October 3, 2010 (88 years, 360 days) (32502 days)	January 25, 1987	October 8, 1991	Vicente Abad Santos	Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
120	Irene R. Cortes	October 20, 1921 – October 28, 1996 (75 years, 8 days) (27402 days)	February 1, 1987	October 20, 1990	Jose Feria	Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
121	Carolina Griño-Aquino	October 22, 1923 – December 24, 2012 (89 years, 63 days) (32571 days)	February 2, 1988	October 22, 1993		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
122	Leo D. Medialdea	August 17, 1927 - November 7, 1992 (65 years, 82 days) (23824 days)	May 2, 1988	November 7, 1992		Claudio Teehankee	Corazon Aquino
123	Florenz Regalado	October 13, 1928 - July 24, 2015 (86 years, 284 days) (31695 days)	July 29, 1988	October 13, 1998	Marcelo Fernan	Marcelo Fernan	Corazon Aquino
124	Hilario Davide Jr.	December 20, 1935	January 24, 1991	November 29, 1998	Irene R. Cortes	Marcelo Fernan	Corazon Aquino
125	Flerida Ruth Romero	August 1, 1929 - December 8, 2017 (88 years, 129 days) (32271 days)	October 21, 1991	August 1, 1999	Abraham F. Sarmiento	Marcelo Fernan	Corazon Aquino
126	Rodolfo A. Nocon	March 15, 1928 - May 12, 2000 (71 years, 363 days) (32271 days)	December 2, 1991	March 15, 1994		Marcelo Fernan	Corazon Aquino
127	Josue N. Bellosillo	November 13, 1933	March 3, 1992	November 13, 2003	Andres Narvasa	Andres Narvasa	Corazon Aquino
128	Jose Melo	May 30, 1932	August 10, 1992	May 30, 2002	Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
129	Jose C. Campos Jr.	April 9, 1923 - January 4, 2005 (81 years, 270 days) (29856 days)	September 3, 1992	April 9, 1993		Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
130	Camilo D. Quiason	July 18, 1925 – September 7, 2014 (89 years, 51 days) (32558 days)	February 1, 1993	July 18, 1995	Leo D. Medialdea	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
131	Reynato Puno	May 17, 1940	June 28, 1993	December 7, 2007	Hugo Gutierrez	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
132	Jose C. Vitug	July 15, 1934	June 28, 1993	July 15, 2004	Jose C. Campos Jr.	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
133	Santiago M. Kapunan	August 12, 1932	January 5, 1994	August 12, 2002	Carolina Griño-Aquino	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
134	Vicente V. Mendoza	April 5, 1933	June 7, 1994	April 5, 2003	Rodolfo A. Nocon	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
135	Ricardo J. Francisco	February 13, 1928 - December 14, 2001 (73 years, 304 days) (26968 days)	January 5, 1995	February 13, 1998	Isagani A. Cruz	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
136	Regino C. Hermosisima Jr.	February 2, 1929	January 10, 1995	October 18, 1997		Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
137	Artemio Panganiban	December 7, 1937	October 5, 1995	December 19, 2005	Camilo Quiason	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
138	Justo P. Torres Jr.	November 1, 1927 – December 26, 2017 (90 years, 55 days) (32928} days)	March 11, 1996	November 1, 1997		Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
139	Antonio M. Martinez	February 2, 1929 – March 17, 2007 (78 years, 43 days) (28532} days)	November 10, 1997	February 2, 1999		Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
140	Leonardo A. Quisumbing	November 6, 1939 – January 20, 2019 (79 years, 75 days) (28930} days)	January 15, 1998	November 6, 2009	Justo P. Torres Jr.	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
141	Fidel P. Purisima	October 28, 1930 – September 19, 2013 (82 years, 326 days) (30277} days)	January 20, 1998	October 28, 2000	Regino C. Hermosisima Jr.	Andres Narvasa	Fidel Ramos
142	Bernardo P. Pardo	February 11, 1932	September 30, 1998	February 11, 2002	Ricardo J. Francisco	Andres Narvasa	Joseph Estrada
143	Arturo B. Buena	March 25, 1932	January 5, 1999	March 25, 2002	Florenz D. Regalado	Hilario Davide Jr.	Joseph Estrada
144	Minerva P. Gonzaga-Reyes	September 25, 1931	January 5, 1999	September 25, 2001	Hilario Davide Jr.	Hilario Davide Jr.	Joseph Estrada
145	Consuelo Ynares-Santiago	October 5, 1939	April 6, 1999	October 5, 2009	Antonio Martinez	Hilario Davide Jr.	Joseph Estrada
146	Sabino R. De Leon Jr.	June 9, 1932 – June 16, 2003 (71 years, 7 days) (25939 days)	October 12, 1999	June 9, 2002	Flerida Ruth Pineda-Romero	Hilario Davide Jr.	Joseph Estrada
147	Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez	February 28, 1938	December 22, 2000	February 28, 2008	Fidel P. Purisima	Hilario Davide Jr.	Joseph Estrada
148	Antonio Carpio	October 26, 1949 (69 years, 362 days)m(25564 days)	October 26, 2001	(17 years, 362 days) (6571 days)	Minerva P. Gonzaga-Reyes	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
149	Alicia Austria-Martinez	December 19, 1940	April 9, 2002	April 30, 2009	Bernardo P. Pardo	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
150	Renato Corona	October 15, 1948 - April 29, 2016 (67 years, 197 days) (24668 days)	April 9, 2002	May 17, 2010	Arturo B. Buena	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
151	Conchita Carpio-Morales	June 19, 1941	August 26, 2002	June 19, 2011	Jose Melo	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
152	Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.	April 28, 1937	August 26, 2002	April 28, 2007	Sabino R. De Leon Jr.	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
153	Adolfo S. Azcuna	February 16, 1939	October 17, 2002	February 16, 2009	Santiago M. Kapunan	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
154	Dante O. Tiñga	May 11, 1939	July 4, 2003	May 11, 2009	Vicente V. Mendoza	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
155	Minita V. Chico-Nazario	December 5, 1939	February 10, 2004	December 5, 2009	Josue N. Bellosillo	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
156	Cancio Garcia	October 20, 1937– October 15, 2013 (75 years, 360 days) (27754} days)	October 7, 2004	October 30, 2007	Jose C. Vitug	Hilario Davide Jr.	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
157	Presbitero Velasco Jr.	August 8, 1948	March 31, 2006	August 8, 2018	Artemio Panganiban	Artemio Panganiban	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
158	Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura	June 13, 1941	February 7, 2007	June 13, 2011	Reynato Puno	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
159	Ruben T. Reyes	January 3, 1939	August 2, 2007	January 3, 2009	Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
160	Teresita Leonardo-de Castro	October 8, 1948 (71 years, 15 days) (25947 days)	December 3, 2007	August 28, 2018 br>(10 years, 268 days) (3921 days)	Cancio Garcia	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
161	Arturo D. Brion	December 29, 1946 (72 years, 298 days) (26596 days)	March 17, 2008	December 29, 2016 (8 years, 277 days (3199 days)	Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
162	Diosdado Peralta	March 27, 1952 (67 years, 210 days) (24681 days)	January 14, 2009	(10 years, 282 days) (3934 days)	Ruben Reyes	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
163	Lucas Bersamin	October 18, 1949 (67 years, 210 days) (24681 days)	April 3, 2009	November 28, 2018 (9 years, 239 days (3605 days)	Adolfo Azcuna	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
164	Mariano del Castillo	July 29, 1949 (70 years, 86 days) (25653 days)	July 29, 2009	July 29, 2019 (10 years, 0 days)' (3776 days)	Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
165	Roberto A. Abad	May 22, 1944	August 7, 2009	May 22, 2014	Dante O. Tiñga	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
166	Martin Villarama Jr.	April 14, 1946	November 6, 2009	January 16, 2016	Consuelo Ynares-Santiago	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
167	Jose P. Perez	December 14, 1946	December 26, 2009	December 14, 2016	Leonardo A. Quisumbing	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
168	Jose C. Mendoza	August 13, 1947	January 4, 2010	August 13, 2017	Minita Chico-Nazario	Reynato Puno	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
169	Maria Lourdes Sereno	July 2, 1960	August 13, 2010	August 24, 2012	Renato Corona	Renato Corona	Benigno Aquino III
170	Bienvenido L. Reyes	July 6, 1947	August 20, 2011	July 6, 2017	Antonio Eduardo Nachura	Renato Corona	Benigno Aquino III
171	Estela Perlas-Bernabe	May 14, 1952 (67 years, 162 days) (24633 days)	September 16, 2011	(8 years, 211 days) (3133 days)'	Conchita Carpio-Morales	Renato Corona	Benigno Aquino III
172	Marvic Leonen	December 29, 1962 (56 years, 298 days) (20752 days)	November 21, 2012	(6 years, 336 days) (2527 days)'	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Benigno Aquino III
173	Francis Jardeleza	September 26, 1949 (70 years, 27 days) (25594 days)	August 19, 2014	September 26, 2019	Roberto Abad	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Benigno Aquino III
174	Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa	September 30, 1959 (60 years, 23 days) (21938 days)	January 22, 2016	(3 years, 274 days) (1370 days)	Martin Villarama Jr.	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Benigno Aquino III
175	Samuel R. Marires	January 2, 1949 (70 years, 294 days) (25861 days)	March 2, 2017	August 3, 2018 (1 year, 154 days) (519 days)	Jose P. Perez	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Rodrigo Duterte
176	Noel G. Tijam	January 5, 1949 (70 years, 291 days) (25367 days)	March 8, 2017	January 5, 2019 (1 year, 309 days) (674 days)	Arturo D. Brion	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Rodrigo Duterte
177	Andres B. Reyes Jr.	May 11, 1950 (69 years, 165 days) (25367 days)	July 12, 2017	(2 years, 103 days) (833) days	Bienvenido L. Reyes	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Rodrigo Duterte
178	Alexander Gesmundo	November 6, 1956 (62 years, 351 days) (22996 days)	August 14, 2017	(2 years, 70 days) (800) days	Jose C. Mendoza	Maria Lourdes Sereno	Rodrigo Duterte
179	Jose Reyes Jr.	September 18, 1950 (69 years, 35 days) (25237 days)	August 10, 2018	(1 year, 74 days) (439 days)	Presbitero Velasco Jr.	Antonio Carpio (Acting)	Rodrigo Duterte
180	Ramon Paul Hernando	August 27, 1966 (53 years, 57 days) (19415 days)	October 10, 2018	(1 year, 13 days 378 days)	Samuel Martires	Antonio Carpio (Acting)	Rodrigo Duterte
181	Rosmari Carandang	January 9, 1952 (67 years, 287 days) (24759 days)	November 26, 2018	(331 days) {331 days)	Teresita Leonardo-de Castro	Lucas Bersamin	Rodrigo Duterte
182	Amy Lazaro-Javier	November 16, 1956 (62 years, 341 days) (22986 days)	March 6, 2019	(231 days) {231 days)	Noel Tijam	Lucas Bersamin	Rodrigo Duterte
183	Henri Jean Paul B. Inting	September 4, 1957 (62 years, 49 days) (22694 days)	May 27, 2019	(149 days) {149 days)	Lucas Bersamin	Lucas Bersamin	Rodrigo Duterte
184	Rodil V. Zalameda	August 3, 1963 (56 years, 81 days) (20535 days)	August 5, 2019	(81 days) {81 days)	Mariano del Castillo	Lucas Bersamin	Rodrigo Duterte
185	—	—	—	—	Francis Jardeleza	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
186	—	—	—	—	Diosdado Peralta	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
187	—	—	—	—	Antonio Carpio	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
188	—	—	—	—	Andres Reyes, Jr.	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
189	—	—	—	—	Jose Reyes, Jr.	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
190	—	—	—	—	Rosmari Carandang	Diosdado Peralta	Rodrigo Duterte
191	—	—	—	—	Estela Perlas-Bernabe	TBD	Rodrigo Duterte

Notable Associate Justices

• To date, one Associate Justice, José P. Laurel, would later serve as President of the Philippines. Laurel also ran for the presidency in 1949 but was defeated by Elpidio Quirino. Another Associate Justice, Claro M. Recto, would be a candidate for president, but he and former Chief Justice Jose Yulo lost to Carlos P. Garcia in the 1957 presidential election.
• The sixteen women appointed as Associate Justices of the Court: Cecilia Muñoz-Palma (1973); Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera (1979); Irene Cortes (1986); Carolina Griño-Aquino (1987); Flerida Ruth Romero (1991); Minerva Gonzaga-Reyes (1998); Consuelo Ynares-Santiago (1999); Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez (2000); Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez (2002); Conchita Carpio-Morales (2002); Minita Chico-Nazario (2003); Teresita Leonardo-De Castro (2007); Maria Lourdes Sereno (2010); Estela Perlas-Bernabe (2011); Rosmari Carandang (2018) and Amy Lazaro-Javier (2019).
• Abdulwahid Bidin was the first Muslim to be named an Associate Justice. He was appointed by President Corazon Aquino in 1987. The vast majority of Filipinos appointed to the Court were Catholic. Three of the more prominent non-Catholics in the Supreme Court were Chief Justices Jose Abad Santos and Reynato Puno, both Methodists; and former Chief Justice María Lourdes Sereno, who is a non-denominational Christian.
• There has been one husband and wife pair who have both served on the Court: Chief Justice Ramon Aquino and Associate Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino. Griño-Aquino was appointed to the Court only after her husband had retired. There have been four father-son pairs who have served in the Court: Associate Justices Florentino Torres (1901–1920) and Luis P. Torres (1949–1950); Chief Justice Ricardo Paras (1941–1961) and Associate Justice Edgardo Paras (1987–1992); Associate Justices Sabino B. Padilla (1946–1948, 1950–1961) and Teodoro Padilla (1987–1997); and Associate Justices Felicisimo Feria (1945–1953) and Jose Feria (1986–1987). Other prominent interrelated Justices were Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos and Associate Justice Vicente Abad Santos (uncle-nephew), and Associate Justice Manuel Briones and Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan (uncle-nephew).
• At age 35, American George A. Malcolm was the youngest person ever appointed Associate Justice, in 1915. However, the present age limit in the Constitution is 40. The youngest Filipinos named Associate Justices were Claro M. Recto (45 years, 4 months, 25 days old) and Ramon Avanceña (45 years, 5 months, 18 days old).
• The oldest person named Associate Justice was Jose C. Campos, Jr. (69 years, 4 months and 23 days old), serving under President Fidel Ramos in 1993. However, Jose Lopez Vito was 69 years, 364 days old when he temporarily sat in Court to fill a vacancy during the Japanese occupation. The oldest Justice to ever sit in Court upon retirement or death was Florentino Torres, who was 75 when he resigned in 1920; this was prior to the specification of any age limit.
• The longest-serving Associate Justice was American Elias Finley Johnson, who served in that position for 29 years, 5 months and 27 days, from 1903 to 1933. The longest serving Filipino Associate Justice was Florentino Torres, who served for 18 years, 10 months, and 3 days, from 1901 to 1920. Justices Ramon Avanceña and Cesar Bengzon would serve longer in the Court than Torres, but their tenure as Associate Justice was terminated by their respective promotions to Chief Justice.
• The Associate Justice serving the shortest period was Ramon Diokno, a former Senator who died 2 months and 11 days after his appointment in 1954.
• The longest-lived Associate Justice is Lorenzo Relova (born January 20, 1916), who surpassed in July 2012 the previous record set by Delfin Jaranilla, who died on 4 June 1980, aged 96 years, 5 months and 11 days. The Supreme Court website identifies Justice Guillermo Pablo (1886-1992) as having died at the age of 106. Other Associate Justices who lived to be nonagenarians include Ricardo Paras, J. B. L. Reyes, Querube Makalintal, Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, Conrado Vasquez, Jose P. Bengzon, Pastor Endencia , Cesar Bengzon, Hermogenes Concepcion, Jr., Felix Angelo Bautista, Jose Feria.
• The youngest Associate Justice to die was American Fletcher Ladd, who died shortly after resigning in 1903 aged 40 years and 356 days; Ladd had served in the Court for less than two years. The youngest Filipino Justice to die was Jose Abad Santos, who was executed by the Imperial Japanese Army at age 56 years, 2 months, and 16 days. Gregorio Perfecto meanwhile died in office aged 57 years, 8 months, 20 days.
• The most recent Associate Justice to die in office was Leo Medialdea in 1992. Other Associate Justices who died during their terms were Fernando Jugo, Ramon Diokno, Gregorio Perfecto, Ignacio Villamor, Carlos Imperial and Charles Johns.
• The only Associate Justice who resigned before the age of compulsory retirement due to health reasons was Austria-Martinez. Note that Florentino Feliciano retired at 67 to accept appointment to the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization. On September, 2008, Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, citing health reasons, filed a letter to the Supreme Court of the Philippines through Reynato Puno, tendering her resignation effective April 30, 2009, or 15 months before her compulsory retirement on December 19, 2010. In the October 1 Judicial and Bar Council's en banc deliberations, Reynato Puno ruled: "The court merely noted it. We don’t have to approve it... it is her right." During the JBC hearing, a JBC member said "Austria-Martinez had wanted to retire earlier because of health reasons. We were told she had health problems even when she was in the CA." Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Artemio Panganiban stated: "I am saddened that Justice Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez has opted to retire early from the Supreme Court due to 'health reasons.' to discharge the duties of their office."[1]
• The longest lived Supreme Court Associate Justice was Guillermo J. Pablo who was born on June 25, 1886 and died on August 2, 1992 at the age of 106 years and 38 days.

See also

• Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Judicial and Bar Council
• Constitution of the Philippines

References

• The Supreme Court E-library
• Sevilla, Victor J. (1985). Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. I. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-0134-9.
• Sevilla, Victor J. (1985). Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. II. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-0137-3.
• Sevilla, Victor J. (1985). Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. III. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-0139-X.