THE WORKFORCE OF THE COURT

By: Regie Rey N. Agustin

Have you ever been to a trial court? If yes, perhaps during the hearing

you’ve asked who those people with the judge are and what roles they take part in

the proceedings. It’s intriguing for first timers in a court to be familiar with its

personnel especially law students who were required by their academe to witness

actual court hearings.

From the presiding judge, we have the branch clerk of court who is in-

charge of administrative matters in a court branch. In Regional Trial Courts, the

position requires a bar passer whereas in Metropolitan Trial Courts it merely

requires a law graduate. The court also has its legal researcher which requires

completion of at least seventy two (72) units of law subjects or completion of two

(2) years in a college of law. The researcher is tasked to resolve case incidents and

assist the judge in drafting a decision. The court has its interpreter, in-charge of the

calendar and acts as a translator during the hearing; there’s also a sheriff, tasked to

implement writs and other execution of judgments; there are stenographers, tasked

to record and transcribe the discussions of the hearing; the clerks, who are

custodians of case records and monitors pending incidents; the process server,

tasked to serve court processes such as summons and subpoenas; and a court aide,

tasked to sort court documents and stitch case records.

Nowadays, “chill hours” for court employees is not a trend as they get loads

of work by reason of the numerous cases being filed day by day especially in urban

jurisdictions. A pile of drug cases and other criminal cases are raffled daily in
courts which are burdensome for most employees. Currently, the Office of the

Court Administrator is aiming to enhance and advance the services of lower courts

by the introduction of an automated hearing, electronic court works and the

implementation of the continuous trial to unclog the dockets of the court and to

render judgment promptly.

Basically, the abovementioned court employees should fully understand

their responsibility to the state and its citizens and strive to justify public trust,

promote the authority of the judicial power, foster respect of the public to courts

and its decisions; promote confidence of the public in the fairness and impartiality

of the judiciary, and do everything within their capacity so that the work of all

employees reflects a devotion to serving the public.