Guidelines to Expedite the Disposition of Cases

May 23, 2013

EN BANC RESOLUTION NO. 004-13

For the purpose of expediting the disposition of cases, the following guidelines shall be strictly observed, as unanimously agreed upon during the en banc session held on April 30, 2013, to wit: caIDSH

1. A Pre-Trial Order must be issued within ten (10) days from the termination of Pre-Trial;

2. Consolidation of cases can be done by the Court motu proprio, if they involve common question of law or fact and if both cases are not too far from each other in terms of stage of proceedings;

3. The Court should avoid or minimize the grant of resetting or postponements to litigants;

4. Ponente should render a report on cases submitted for decision ninety (90) days before due date;

5. Considering that each Justice is given only five (5) calendar days to review the draft decision, after one o'clock on a Friday, no more draft decisions will be circulated or transmitted from one Justice to another;

6. If the opinion of the majority of the Justices be different from or contrary to the opinion of the ponente, the case shall be re-raffled among the Justices who have the majority opinion;

7.a)  In the event of a re-raffle under the immediately preceding paragraph and the new ponente is unable to decide or resolve the case within the original period, the new ponente shall request the Presiding Justice for an extension of the period to decide or resolve the case; and

b) Pursuant to SC En Banc Resolution A.M. No. 10-4-13-SC, the Presiding Justice shall act on the request for extension.

8. For monitoring purposes, the Clerk of Court, Division or En Banc, is tasked to render a monthly report of cases submitted for decision.

Effective immediately.

 

(SGD.) ROMAN G. DEL ROSARIOPresiding Justice

 

(SGD.) JUANITO C. CASTAÑEDA, JR.Associate Justice

 

(SGD.) LOVELL R. BAUTISTAAssociate Justice

 

(SGD.) ERLINDA P. UYAssociate Justice

 

(SGD.) CAESAR A. CASANOVAAssociate Justice

 

(SGD.) ESPERANZA R. FABON-VICTORINOAssociate Justice

 

(SGD.) CIELITO N. MINDARO-GRULLAAssociate Justice

 

(SGD.) AMELIA R. COTANGCO-MANALASTASAssociate Justice