Jose C. Mendoza
Encyclopedia
Jose Catral Mendoza is the 168th magistrate
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
.
graduate of the University of the Philippines
, Jose Mendoza took up his law studies
in the San Beda College of Law
where he led the establishment of Lex Talionis Fraternitas. After passing the 1971 Bar Examinations
, the young lawyer engaged in private practice and served as legal counsel of private corporations such as the Philippine Banking Corporation, the Manila Electric Co.
, and the Gokongwei Group of Companies. He also became a senior consular investigator for the United States Embassy
before entering government service as a senior research attorney in the Court of Appeals
in 1977.
From 1980 to 1985, he worked as an associate in the Alampay Alvero Alampay Law Office before rejoining the Judiciary in 1985 as a confidential attorney in the Supreme Court, serving under Justices Nestor Alampay and Abdulwahid Bidin
.
in 1989 when he was appointed presiding judge
of the Regional Trial Court of Sta. Cruz, Laguna. He eventually became the executive judge of the same court in 1992. In 1994, he was designated presiding judge, and later on as executive judge, of the Quezon City
Regional Trial Court. After 15 years as a judge, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
on July 4, 2003.
One of his well known decisions as an appellate justice was the reinstatement of the criminal charges against millionaire businessman Dante Tan, an ally of former President
Joseph Estrada
who was involved in a stock price manipulation
scandal. He also penned the decision approving the petitions for the writ of amparo and the writ of habeas corpus
filed by the families of University of the Philippines
students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who were allegedly abducted by the members of the military in 2006.
On January 4, 2010, he was appointed Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court to replace erstwhile Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario
.
His first major decision as a member of the Supreme Court
was the controversial Biraogo vs. Truth Commission, where he struck down as unconstitutional President
Benigno Aquino III
's Executive Order No. 1 creating a Truth Commission to investigate corruption during the administration of former President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
. Together with nine of the 15-member tribunal, he invalidated the executive order because of its apparent transgression of the equal protection clause
for singling out the Arroyo administration. In his ponencia
, Justice Mendoza blatantly tagged Aquino's Truth Commission "as a vehicle for vindictiveness and selective retribution."
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only 1 of the 15 votes in the court...
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
.
Legal career
A political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
graduate of the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
, Jose Mendoza took up his law studies
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in the San Beda College of Law
San Beda College of Law
San Beda College of Law is the law degree-granting unit of San Beda College, a private, Roman Catholic college run by the Benedictine monks in the Philippines....
where he led the establishment of Lex Talionis Fraternitas. After passing the 1971 Bar Examinations
Philippine Bar Examination
The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional licensure examination for lawyers in the Philippines.It is the only professional licensure exam in the country that is not supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission...
, the young lawyer engaged in private practice and served as legal counsel of private corporations such as the Philippine Banking Corporation, the Manila Electric Co.
Meralco
The Manila Electric Company , also known as MERALCO or Meralco, is the Philippines' largest distributor of electrical power.The word MERALCO, is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light COmpany, which was the company's original name from 1903 to 1919.MERALCO is the Metro Manila's only...
, and the Gokongwei Group of Companies. He also became a senior consular investigator for the United States Embassy
Embassy of the United States in Manila
The Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines is situated in the Chancery Building of the Manila American Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila...
before entering government service as a senior research attorney in the Court of Appeals
Philippine Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines is the Philippines' second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice...
in 1977.
From 1980 to 1985, he worked as an associate in the Alampay Alvero Alampay Law Office before rejoining the Judiciary in 1985 as a confidential attorney in the Supreme Court, serving under Justices Nestor Alampay and Abdulwahid Bidin
Abdulwahid Bidin
Abdulwahid A. Bidin — was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed by President Corazon Aquino in 1987, he was the first Muslim named to the Philippine High Bench.-Profile:...
.
Career in the judiciary
Mendoza became a member of the BenchBench (law)
Bench in legal contexts means simply the location in a courtroom where a judge sits. The historical roots of that meaning come from the fact that judges formerly sat on long seats or benches when presiding over a court...
in 1989 when he was appointed presiding judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Regional Trial Court of Sta. Cruz, Laguna. He eventually became the executive judge of the same court in 1992. In 1994, he was designated presiding judge, and later on as executive judge, of the Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
Regional Trial Court. After 15 years as a judge, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals
Philippine Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines is the Philippines' second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice...
on July 4, 2003.
One of his well known decisions as an appellate justice was the reinstatement of the criminal charges against millionaire businessman Dante Tan, an ally of former President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
who was involved in a stock price manipulation
Market manipulation
Market manipulation describes a deliberate attempt to interfere with the free and fair operation of the market and create artificial, false or misleading appearances with respect to the price of, or market for, a security, commodity or currency...
scandal. He also penned the decision approving the petitions for the writ of amparo and the writ of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
filed by the families of University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, who were allegedly abducted by the members of the military in 2006.
On January 4, 2010, he was appointed Associate Justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only 1 of the 15 votes in the court...
of the Supreme Court to replace erstwhile Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario
Minita Chico-Nazario
Minita Chico-Nazario is an incumbent Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. She was appointed to the court by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 10, 2004.-Profile:...
.
His first major decision as a member of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
was the controversial Biraogo vs. Truth Commission, where he struck down as unconstitutional President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
's Executive Order No. 1 creating a Truth Commission to investigate corruption during the administration of former President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
. Together with nine of the 15-member tribunal, he invalidated the executive order because of its apparent transgression of the equal protection clause
Equal Protection Clause
The Equal Protection Clause, part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, provides that "no state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"...
for singling out the Arroyo administration. In his ponencia
Majority opinion
In law, a majority opinion is a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision....
, Justice Mendoza blatantly tagged Aquino's Truth Commission "as a vehicle for vindictiveness and selective retribution."