Political and Public International Law › Law on Public Officers › Public Office
3. Eligibility and Qualification Requirements
Constitutional Requirements
Supreme Court
- Natural born citizens
- At least 40 years of age
- Must have been, for at least 15 years, a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines
- Must be of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.
Lower Collegiate Courts
- Natural born citizen
- Member of the Philippine Bar
- Must be of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence
- Such additional requirements provided by law.
Lower Courts
- Filipino citizens (Rules of the Judicial and Bar Council, Nov. 2000, Rule 2. Philippine citizenship and membership in the Philippine Bar are constitutional minimums; Congress prescribes further qualifications, including those applicable under B.P. 129 [Section 7(2), Article VIII, 1987 Constitution].)
- Member of the Philippine Bar
- Must be of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.
- Such additional requirements provided by law.
Note: In the case of judges of the lower courts, the Congress may prescribe other qualifications [Section 7(2), Article VIII, 1987 Constitution].
Residency Requirements
Domicile - This is in reference to the 1-year residency requirement in the Philippines.
Authorities
- 1987 Constitution, Art. VIII, Sec. 7
- B.P. 129
- Rules of the Judicial and Bar Council, Sec. 2