General Principles Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the Principle of Judicial Hierarchy?
The principle of hierarchy of courts guides litigants as
to the proper venue of appeals and/ or the appropriate
forum for the issuance of extraordinary writs. The principle provides that the appropriate forum is the court lowest in the judicial hierarchy. Hence, as a rule, recourse must be first made to the lower-ranked courts exercising concurrent jurisdiction with a higher court.
What is the effect if there is non-compliance with the
principle of hierarchy of courts?
Failure to comply is sufficient cause for the dismissal of
the petition. It is a constitutional imperative, not a matter
of mere policy, given (1) the structure of our judicial
system; and (2) requirements of due process.
What are the exceptions to the principle of judicial
hierarchy?
Immediate resort to the Supreme Court may be allowed when any of the following grounds are present:
1. When genuine issues of constitutionality are raised that must be addressed immediately;
2. When the case involves transcendental importance;
3. When the case is novel;
4. When the constitutional issues raised are better decided by the Supreme Court;
5. When time is of the essence;
6. When the subject of review involves acts of a constitutional organ;
7. When there is no other plain, speedy, adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law;
8. When the petition includes questions that may affect public welfare, public policy, or demanded by the broader interest of justice;
9. When the order complained of was a patent nullity; and
10. When the appeal was considered as an inappropriate remedy.
What is the Doctrine of Non-Interference or Judicial
Stability?
The doctrine of non-interference or judicial stability dictates that a trial court has no authority to interfere with the proceedings of a court of equal jurisdiction, much less to annul the final judgment of a co-equal court. The orders and decisions of a competent court cannot be altered, modified or amended by another court of concurrent jurisdiction.
What are the exceptions to the doctrine of noninterference
or judicial stability?
The doctrine of non-interference or judicial stability does not apply:
1. Where a third-party claimant is involved;
2. When another court with concurrent jurisdiction later
acquires jurisdiction pursuant to a sanctioned change
of venue.
When is a matter deemed of transcendental importance?
In determining whether a matter is of transcendental importance, it must be guided by the presence of three factors:
1. The character of the funds or other assets involved in the case;
2. The presence of a clear case of disregard of a constitutional or statutory prohibition by the public respondent agency or instrumentality of the government; and
3. The lack of any other party with a more direct and specific interest in the questions being raised.
What is jurisdiction?
Jurisdiction is the power and authority of a court to hear, try and decide a case, as well as to enforce or execute its judgments or final orders. Jurisdiction is a matter of substantive law. An action may be filed only with the court or tribunal where the Constitution or a statute says it can be brought.
Without jurisdiction, a judgment rendered by a court is null and void and may be attacked anytime. A void judgment is no judgment at all - it can neither be the source of any right nor the creator of any obligation; all acts performed pursuant to it and all claims emanating from it have no legal effect.
What are the aspects of jurisdiction?
In adjudication, the concept of jurisdiction has several aspects, namely:
a. Jurisdiction over the parties;
b. Jurisdiction over subject matter;
c. Jurisdiction over the issues;
d. Jurisdiction over the res or property in litigation;
e. Jurisdiction over the remedy.
What is meant by jurisdiction over the parties?
It is the power of a court to render a personal judgment or to subject the parties in a particular action to the judgment and other rulings rendered in the action. It is the power of the courts to make decisions that are binding on them and is based on due process.
How is jurisdiction over the plaintiff acquired?
Courts acquire jurisdiction over the plaintiff or petitioner once the complaint or petition. is filed. A court automatically acquires jurisdiction over the person of the plaintiff upon the filing of the initiatory pleading.
How is jurisdiction over the defendant acquired?
Jurisdiction over the defendant is acquired through voluntary appearance in court or a valid service of summons.
When is jurisdiction over the person of the defendant
indispensable?
Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is indispensable in actions in personam or those actions based on a party’s personal liability.
What is the effect if jurisdiction over the defendant is not acquired in actions in personam?
The proceedings in an action in personam are void if the court had no jurisdiction over the person of the defendant.
What is meant by jurisdiction over the subject matter?
Jurisdiction over the subject matter is the power to hear and determine cases of the general class to which the proceedings in question belong and is conferred by the sovereign authority which organizes the court and defines its powers.
How is jurisdiction over the subject matter conferred and determined?
Jurisdiction over the subject matter of a case is conferred by law and determined by the allegations in the complaint which comprise a concise statement of the ultimate facts constituting the plaintiff’s cause of action.
The nature of an action, as well as which court or body has jurisdiction over it, is determined based on the allegations contained in the complaint of the plaintiff, irrespective of whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to recover upon all or some of the claims asserted therein. The averments in the complaint and the character of the relief sought are the ones to be consulted.
When may lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter be raised?
The issue of jurisdiction may be raised at any stage of the proceedings, even on appeal. It is the time-honored principle that the issue of jurisdiction is not lost by waiver or by estoppel.
May objections to jurisdiction over the subject matter be waived?
No. Objections to jurisdiction over the subject matter cannot be waived and may be brought at any stage of the proceedings, even on appeal. When a case is filed with a court that has no jurisdiction over the action, the court shall motu proprio dismiss the case.
What is error of jurisdiction?
An error of jurisdiction is one where the officer or tribunal acted without or in excess of its jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, and which error is correctible only by the extraordinary writ of certiorari.
What is error of judgment?
An error of judgment is one which the court may commit in the exercise of its jurisdiction. It only involves errors in the court or tribunal’s appreciation of the facts and of the law. Errors of judgment are reviewable only by appeal.
What are the remedies available if a court committed errors of jurisdiction?
Errors of jurisdiction may be assailed through:
1. Certiorari
2. Prohibition
3. Annulment of judgment, in exceptional circumstances when there is lack of jurisdiction.
What is jurisdiction over the issues?
It is the power of the court to try and decide issues raised in the pleadings of the parties. This pertains to a tribunal’s power and authority to decide over matters which are either disputed by the parties or simply under consideration.
Can jurisdiction over the issues be agreed upon by the
parties?
Yes. Unlike jurisdiction over the subject-matter, jurisdiction over the issues may be conferred by either express or implied consent of the parties.
How is jurisdiction over the issues determined?
Jurisdiction over the issues of the case is determined and conferred by the pleadings filed in the case by the parties, or by their agreement in a pre-trial order or stipulation, or, at times by their implied consent as by the failure of a party to object to evidence on an issue not covered by the pleadings.
What is jurisdiction over the res or property in litigation?
Jurisdiction over the res or property in litigation is obtained by actual or constructive seizure placing the property under the orders of the court.