Prioritization of Cases and Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution
OCA Circular No. 127-2021 emphasizes the prioritization of specific case types by judges in the Philippine First and Second Level Courts. Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo highlights the importance of expediting cases involving women and children, urgent relief applications, government expropriations, and those impacting human rights and dignity. Judges are encouraged to promote alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to facilitate quicker case resolutions. This initiative aims to enhance judicial efficiency and reduce costs for litigants.
Law Information
- Reference Number
- OCA Circular No. 127-2021
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Supreme Court Issuances
- Subcategory
- Office of the Court Administrator Circulars
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
October 13, 2021
OCA CIRCULAR NO. 127-2021
| TO | : | All Judges of the First and Second Level Courts |
| SUBJECT | : | Prioritization of Cases and Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution |
In His Honor's message given during the Philippine Judges Association's First Virtual Convention held on 29-30 September 2021, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo enjoined judges "to give primacy to cases involving women and children; cases with urgent reliefs, such as (cases where) applications for temporary restraining order, writ of preliminary injunction, and protection orders (were granted), (and applications for) writ of habeas corpus, writ of amparo and habeas data, and writ of kalikasan; cases that involve government expropriation and infrastructure projects (including energy transmission projects); commercial- and economic-impact cases; as well as motions and interlocutory incidents that affect the liberty of the accused in criminal cases, and the integrity and dignity of human life in all cases."
Judges were also urged to "strongly encourage ligitants to resort to mediation, judicial dispute resolution, and other forms of alternative dispute resolutions, in and out of the court" in order to dispose of cases "with less time and effort on [the judges'] part, and with less expense on the part of the litigants."
Given the foregoing, all judges shall prioritize and expedite the resolution of the aforementioned cases and encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for speedier disposition of cases.
(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZCourt Administrator
Cite This Law
Prioritization of Cases and Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, OCA Circular No. 127-2021, Oct 13, 2021 (Philippines)
Prioritization of Cases and Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, OCA Circular No. 127-2021 (Phil. 2021)
Related Laws
- Reiteration of the Directive in OCA Circular No. 127-2021 Dated 13 October 2021 (Re: Prioritization of Cases and Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution)OCA Circular No. 37-2022 • Feb 17, 2022 • Supreme Court Issuances
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)NEA Memorandum No. 007-11 • Dec 28, 2010 • Other Rules and Procedures
- Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Executive DepartmentExecutive Order No. 523 • Apr 7, 2006 • Presidential Issuances
- Rules on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes between National Government AgenciesOffice of the Solicitor General • Mar 22, 2010 • Other Rules and Procedures
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004Republic Act No. 9285 • Apr 2, 2004 • Statutes
- Participation in the Launch of the Alternative Dispute Resolution SeminarsMemorandum Circular No. 122 • Oct 25, 2006 • Presidential Issuances
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