[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 23-2002, May 27, 2002 ]

[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 23-2002, May 27, 2002 ]

[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 23-2002, May 27, 2002 ]

TO : ALL CONCERNED PRESIDING JUDGES, CLERKS OF COURT AND COURT PERSONNEL OF THE SHARP A CIRCUIT COURTS

SUBJECT : INTERVIEW OF JUDGES, CLERKS OF COURT AND COURT PERSONNEL AND ACCESS TO RECORDS OF CASES

The Pilipina Legal Resources Center (PLRC), through its Board Member Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie, has informed us of the Center's current project known as "Making Justice Accessible to Women Through a Community Based Shari 'a Court Watch" and funded by the Canadian International Development Assistance (CIDA). For this purpose, the PLRC has organized Local Monitoring Teams to monitor the Shari'a Circuit Courts with stations at Parang, Sulu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Isabela, Basilan; Marawi City; and Kabacan, North Cotabato by: (1) conducting interviews with the Presiding Judges, clerks of court and court personnel of the said courts; and (2) reviewing cases filed with the said courts from 1995 and onwards.

Pursuant to the request of the PLRC, all of the abovementioned Judges, clerks of court and court personnel are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the Local Monitoring Teams. However, the record of cases which may be reviewed by the said Teams shall be limited to disposed or terminated cases only. For active or pending cases, the Teams may utilize the following records in gathering information: (1) General Docket Book; (2) Docket Books for Criminal, Civil and Other Cases; (3) Monthly Report of Cases; (4) Semestral Docket Inventory Report; and (5) Other report submitted to the Statistical Reports Division of the CMO, OCA, if requested.

The Office of the Court Administrator shall implement this Administrative Circular.

For strict compliance.

27 May 2002.

(Sgd.)JOSE A. R. MELO

Chief Justice