CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo said during the Supreme Court’s kick-off ceremony for Women’s Month last Monday that the judiciary has undergone a remarkable transformation, with women now occupying key positions from the regional trial courts to the High Court.
“Women now comprise over half of the sitting judges in the trial courts at 56 percent. In appellate courts, women justices account for 77 percent in the Court of Tax Appeals, 45 percent in the Court of Appeals, and 35 percent in the Sandiganbayan,” Gesmundo said.
The theme for this year’s celebration of Women’s Month is “Babae: Sapat Ka! Higit Pa! A Celebration of Women as Pillars of the Rule of Law and a Just and Humane Society.”
Gesmundo said that two of the sitting SC Justices are women, namely, Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Maria Filomena Singh.
The appellate courts also have Presiding Justices Fernanda Lampas-Peralta in the Court of Appeals and Geraldine Faith Econg in the Sandiganbayan.
“Women are indispensable to the progress of our nation. They are present in every sector, every space, and every field—building businesses, leading institutions, shaping policies, and strengthening families and communities. A nation that truly values and supports women’s contributions is a nation that prospers,” Gesmundo said in his speech.
“Across the Judiciary, women also serve as attorneys, judicial officers, and administrative personnel who uphold the integrity and efficiency of our justice system. Their growing presence in all levels and aspects of the Judiciary shows the ongoing transformation of our legal institutions, ensuring that women’s voices and perspectives are represented and heard at every level,” he added.
But while the progress is encouraging, Gesmundo cautioned that true empowerment is not simply about increasing representation but also about “fostering a system where women’s leadership, insights, and expertise are valued and fully integrated into shaping the nation’s institutional and cultural fabric.”
Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez also revealed that since 2013, more women than men have passed the Bar Exams.
Likewise, in the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Exams, an overwhelming 62.3 percent of passers were female, with nine out of the 11 topnotchers being women.
“More than just statistics, these are proof of women’s resilience, brilliance, and rightful place in the judiciary. Our courts, once dominated by men, are now shaped by women’s leadership, wisdom, and strength,” Lopez said.
Lazaro-Javier challenged traditional notions of empowerment, saying it should no longer be seen as a “process of becoming stronger.”
She proposed a new definition of women empowerment as “the endless possibilities women create when they embrace their innate abilities to lead and change the world.”
“And as women continue to rise, it becomes clear: power is no longer something women should attain, it is something that flows from within and radiates outward,” Lazaro-Javier added.
