1st Asia Pacific Judicial Reform (APJR)Forum Round Table Discussion (RTD)
by: Dennis Russell D. Baldago

Since the conduct of the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms* (ICSJR) last November 28 - 30, 2005, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has received numerous positive and encouraging impressions from the participants.



These impressions are not only a testimony to the success of the International Conference but more importantly, these are impetus to the newly established Asia Pacific Judicial Reform (APJR) Forum, the Manila Declaration, and the Judicial Reform Network in the 21st Century (JRN21) Website (http://jrn21.supremecourt.gov.ph/).

For instance, the Federal Court of Australia hosted the 1st Round Table Discussion (RTD) of the APJR Forum last March 16 – 17, 2006 at Sydney, Australia. The objectives of the RTD were: 1) to identify areas of high priority collaboration among Asia Pacific Chief Justices, judges and judicial academies; and 2) to examine judicial reform experiences that have potential for replication or adaptation by the APJR member countries. The Philippine Supreme Court likewise proposed the following Agenda for discussion: a) Sharing of the Documentation of the Conference and the Results of the Survey; b) Knowledge Sharing; c) Draft Action Plan; d) Establishment of a Forum Secretariat; and e) 2006 International Conference.



At the close of the meeting, the following agreements were adopted, namely: (1) the development of a Judicial Reform Handbook, (2) conduct and schedule of the 2nd RTD and next International Judicial Conference, and (3) designation of Australia as the secretariat of the Forum.

Aside from Australia, the following countries participated in the RTD, namely: (1) China, (2) India, (3) Indonesia, (4) Malaysia, (5) Philippines, (6) Russia, and (7) Thailand. Representatives from Development Partners such as World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Indonesia – Australia Legal Development Facility (IALDF) also participated.

The next RTD is scheduled on May 27 – 30, 2007 which will be hosted by the Supreme Court of Malaysia.


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* The International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms was initiated by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. It was participated by 127 foreign delegates from 45 countries.

Philippine
Supreme Court Justice
Heads Judicial Reform Handbook Project
by Dennis Russell D. Baldago

In another historic event for the Philippine Judiciary, Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio has accepted the invitation of Justice Kenneth Hayne AC of the High Court of Australia, head of the Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum (APJRF) Secretariat, to serve as Chairperson of the Judicial Reform Handbook Project Board.

The Judicial Reform Handbook is the expected output of the “Strengthening the Asia-Pacific Judicial Reform Forum (APJRF)” Project funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The Handbook will serve as a tool for judiciaries across the Asia-Pacific Region to improve the administration of justice as a means of strengthening the rule of law and access to justice.

The Project Board will be responsible for coordinating the Handbook’s production management process and will act as the oversight committee for the Project’s implementation. The Project Board will be supported by the APJRF Network Facilitator and Secretariat.

The current members of the Project Board include Justices from the judiciaries of Australia, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand.

The proposed chapters of the Handbook are the following: (1) access to justice, (2) case management, (3) judicial independence, (4) court and judicial administration, (5) alternative dispute resolution, (6) financial management, (7) skills development: judges and court staff, (8) codes of conduct, (9) use of technology, and (10) developing and implementing judicial reform.

The Judicial Reform Handbook Project was conceived during the 1st APJRF RTD held last March 16 – 17, 2006 in Sydney, Australia hosted by the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of New South Wales, and New South Wales Judicial Commission.

A native of Davao City, Philippines, Justice Carpio was sworn in as member of the Supreme Court on October 26, 2001. Justice Carpio obtained his law degree from the College of Law of the University of the Philippines (UP) where he graduated valedictorian and cum laude in 1975. He placed sixth in the 1975 Bar Examinations. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from Ateneo de Manila University in 1970.

Justice Carpio is also the Chairperson of the Supreme Court's Committee on Computerization and Library and Co-Chairperson of the Oversight Committee on Halls of Justice. He is also Vice-Chairperson of the Committees on Legal Education and Bar Matters; Public Information, Knowledge Sharing and Regional Cooperation. He is a member of the Committees on Legislative-Executive Relations; Executive Committee for Judicial Reform Program; Task Force Group of Philippine Judicial Academy; Zero Backlog Cases; and Senate Electoral Tribunal.