High court’s Justice Reyes retires at 70

SUPREME Court Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr. retires on May 11 after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 70.

High court magistrates held an online meeting on May 8 for his retirement ceremony, the tribunal’s Public Information Office tweeted at the weekend.

Of the 15 justices of the tribunal, 11 were appointed by Mr. Duterte, including Mr. Reyes. Mr. Duterte had also promoted Diosdado M. Peralta, an appointee of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to chief justice.

Mr. Reyes earned his economics degree from St. Mary’s College of California and took up law at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Mr. Duterte named him a justice on July 13, 2017.

He started his career in the Judiciary as a trial judge in 1987 until 1999 before he was promoted to the Court of Appeals (CA).

He was appointed presiding justice of the appellate court in February 2010.

Mr. Reyes earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Philippine Women’s University.

He is a “third-generation justice” in the family, according to his profile on the court’s website. His grandfather Alex A. Reyes, Sr. was a justice of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

His father Justice Andres C. Reyes, Sr., was a former presiding justice of the appellate court.

He also taught at the Arellano Law School and the College of Law of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila before attaining senior status at the appellate court.

Mr. Duterte has 90 days to appoint his replacement. He will choose from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas