This music video is made in celebration of the 120th founding anniversary of the Supreme Court. All videos and photos used are duly credited to the respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
"The Supreme Court hymn" is the official hymn of the Supreme Court of the Philippines composed by the late Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Jesus M. Elbinias (B: January 1, 1930; D: January 22, 2012). This is to be sung after the Philippine national anthems and the Philippine Judiciary Hymn during the flag ceremony and other official events in all judicial courts.
About Justice Jesus M. Elbinias
Justice Elbinias, a native of Cotabato, took his pre-law Associate of Arts degree and Bachelor of Laws degree from Silliman University. While studying at Silliman, he excelled in poetry, and oratory, garnering awards such as Best Orator, Best Speaker, and Best Debater in inter-collegiate contests.
Justice Elbinias entered the judiciary on January 30, 1976, as judge of the Court of First Instance in Palawan. He would, later on, be transferred to the Court of First Instance of Bulacan, and still later, reappointed as Regional Trial Judge in Makati. On January 31, 1987, former President Corazon Aquino appointed him as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.
Justice Elbinias also composed of other official hymns like the Philippine Judiciary Hymn, Court of Appeals Hymn, Ombudsman Hymn, Philippine Judges Association Hymn, and the Philippine Volunteers March.
About the Supreme Court
On June 11, 1901, the Second Philippine Commission passed Act No. 136 entitled “An Act Providing for the Organization of Courts in the Philippine Islands” formally establishing the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands and creating Courts of First Instance and Justices of the Peace Courts throughout the land. The judicial organization established by the Act was conceived by the American lawyers in the Philippine Commission and was patterned in its basic structures after similar organizations in the United States.
The Supreme Court created under the Act was composed of a Chief Justice and six Judges. Five members of the Court could form a quorum, and the concurrence of at least four members was necessary to pronounce a judgment. Act No. 136 abolished the Audiencia established under General Order No. 20 and declared that the Supreme Court created by the Act be substituted in its place. This effectively severed any nexus between the present Supreme Court and the Audiencia.
the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and such lower courts as may be established by law.” (Art. VII, Sec. 1). The exercise of judicial power is shared by the Supreme Court with all the courts below it, but it is only the Supreme Court’s decisions that are vested with precedential value or doctrinal authority, as its interpretations of the Constitution and the laws are final and beyond review by any other branch of government.
The Supreme Court under the present Constitution is composed of a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices. The members of the Court are appointed by the President from a list prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council of at least three nominees for every vacancy. This new process is intended to “de-politicize” the courts of justice, ensure the choice of competent judges, and fill existing vacancies without undue delay.
Sources: Supreme Court official website and Wikipedia
