SC: All courts to begin full ops on June 1, may function with skeleton workforce

All courts in the country will start full operations on June 1, but may still deploy only a skeleton workforce on-site, the SC said./SC/

(Eagle News)–All courts shall begin full operations on June 1 but may continue to function with a skeleton workforce, the Supreme Court said on Friday, May 29.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said in administrative circular no. 41-2020 courts in the country shall be in full operation, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Metro Manila, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Regions 1 to 12.

The Chief Justice said the skeleton staff, if necessary, is to be determined by the Chief Justice, associate justices, presiding justices and judges, executive judges and chiefs of office as the case may be.

He said all those working from home should have work to do from home.

All the courts shall receive all the petitions and pleadings filed by any party,  and shall be received by the courts through their respective email addresses as posted on the website of the SC if electronically filed.

The Chief Justice said the raffle of cases shall proceed regularly,  either electronically or in e-Court stations or in accordance with laid down procedure in non-ecourt stations, provided only the raffle members shall attend excluding the private lawyers and the general public “during this period of public health emergency.”

Hearings, the Chief Justice said, shall all be in court except in cases involving persons deprived of liberty and in cases with extraordinary circumstances as determined by the judge.

In these cases, the Chief Justice said hearings shall be held via video conferencing.

Flag raising and retreat ceremonies shall remain suspended.

Meetings and conferences shall be deferred unless if held via video conferencing, the Chief Justice said.