There is a growing presence of women in the judiciary highlighting the ongoing transformation of legal institutions, according to the Supreme Court (SC).
In a Facebook post, the SC said women now comprise over half of the sitting judges in the trial courts at 56%. In appellate courts, women justices account for 77% in the Court of Tax Appeals, 45% in the Court of Appeals, and 35% in the Sandiganbayan.
The highest tribunal held a kick-off activity on Monday for women’s month this year, while an annual convention of women judges was held on Wednesday, March 5.
“Women are indispensable to the progress of our nation…They are present in every sector, every space, and every field building businesses, leading institutions, shaping policies, and strengthening families and communities,” said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Gesmundo emphasized that a “nation that truly values and supports women’s contributions is a nation that prospers.”
Across the judiciary, women also serve as attorneys, judicial officers, and administrative personnel who uphold the integrity and efficiency of our justice system, he said.
True empowerment is not simply about increasing representation, but also about “fostering a system where women’s leadership, insights, and expertise are valued and fully integrated into shaping the nation’s institutional and cultural fabric,” according to the Chief Justice.
Meanwhile, Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier—one of the two women magistrates in the High Court—emphasized the need to redefine women empowerment.
She proposed a new definition of women empowerment as “the endless possibilities women create when they embrace their innate abilities to lead and change the world. And as women continue to rise, it becomes clear: power is no longer something women should ‘attain’—it is something that flows from within and radiates outward.”
“Women have now become the symbol of strength, courage, and resilience. Women are no longer fighting for empowerment; they are embodying it,” she said.
It underscores how women today are no longer mere participants in the narrative of some man’s success, said Lazaro-Javier who is the 2025 Bar chairperson.
