The Judicial and Bar Council has announced the opening for applications and recommendations to fill the upcoming vacancy of Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who will retire on June 4.
Lopez’s successor will be the first appointee of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to the Supreme Court, ABS-CBN News reported.
Currently, all sitting justices of the high court, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, were appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, except for Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, who were appointed by former President Noynoy Aquino.
The most recent addition to the court, Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, was appointed by Duterte on May 18, 2022.
The deadline for submitting online applications or recommendations for the new Supreme Court justice is 4:30 p.m. on March 28, 2025.