The Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, led by Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, were paid a courtesy call by delegates from the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) on the last day of the latter’s study visit in the Philippines last September 2025.
SC Associate Justices Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., Maria Filomena D. Singh, and Raul B. Villanueva received FCA Chief Justice Debra Sue Mortimer, FCA Justices Stephen Burley, Sarah Derrington, and Thomas Thawley; and FCA court officials Mr. Paul Farrell, Senior National Judicial Registrar and District Registrar; Mr. Jimmy Mastorakos, Executive Director for Corporate Strategy & Programs; Mr. Nathan Price, Acting Chief Information and Digital Officer; and Mr. Martin Clutterbuck, International Programs Manager.
In his message, Acting Chief Justice Leonen expressed gratitude to the FCA delegation for the meaningful exchange of ideas during the week-long study visit.
For her part, Chief Justice Mortimer showed her appreciation to the #SupremeCourtPH and reflected on the enriching experience, highlighting the meaningful exchange of ideas and shared advancing to judicial excellence.
Also present were SC officials and representatives from the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Australian Embassy of the Philippines, and FAIR Justice Program.
Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen (center) receives a framed artwork from Federal Court of Australia (FCA) Chief Justice Debra Sue Mortimer (fourth from left) during the FCA’s courtesy call on Philippine Supreme Court (SC) Justices held on September 26, 2025 at Shangri-la The Fort, Manila in Taguig City. With them are (from left) FCA Justices Stephen Burley, Thomas Michael Thawley, and Sarah Derrington; SC Associate Justices Jose Midas P. Marquez, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., Maria Filomena D. Singh, and Raul B. Villanueva; and Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta. The courtesy call concludes the FCA’s week-long study visit in the Philippines, pursuant to the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the SC and the FCA to promote judicial cooperation. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
The Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines, led by Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen (center table, center) and Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh (center table, second from right), concludes the week-long study visit of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) delegation, headed by Chief Justice Debra Sue Mortimer (center table, fourth from left) at a ceremony held on September 26, 2025 at the Shangri-La the Fort, Manila in Taguig City. The event included a series of presentations on the modernization of the SC’s administrative processes, automation initiatives, and communications and media relations strategies. Accompanying Chief Justice Mortimer are (center table, from left): FCA Justices Stephen Burley, Thomas Michael Thawley, Sarah Derrington; (left table, from top) Senior National Judicial Registrar Paul Farrell, Executive Director for Corporate Strategy & Programs Jimmy Mastorakos, Acting Chief Information and Digital Officer Nathan Price, and International Programs Manager Martin Clutterbuck. With them are (center table, from right) SC Associate Justices Raul B. Villanueva, Antonio T. Kho, Jr., and Jose Midas P. Marquez; (right table, from top) Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and Australian Embassy of the Philippines (AEP) Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Moya Collett. Also in the photo are Court officials and representatives from the Philippine Judicial Academy, AEP and FAIR Justice Program. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
(Top row, from left, clockwise) Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Raul B. Villanueva, SC Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Atty. Jed Sherwin G. Uy, SC Chief Communications Officer Atty. Michael Jobert I. Navallo, and SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae L. Ting deliver presentations on September 26, 2025 at Shangri-la The Fort, Manila in Taguig City. Justice Villanueva, who previously served as Court Administrator before his appointment as Associate Justice, spoke on the modernization efforts of the Office of the Court Administrator. Atty. Uy discussed the SC’s Digital Transformation Journey, while Attys. Navallo and Ting shared best practices in managing communications and media relations. These presentations form part of the week-long study visit of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) in the Philippines, pursuant to the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the SC and the FCA to promote judicial cooperation. (Photos courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Federal Court of Australia (FCA) Chief Justice Debra Sue Mortimer expresses her appreciation to the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) during the FCA’s courtesy call on SC Justices on September 26, 2025 at Shangri-la The Fort, Manila in Taguig City. She thanked the SC for the warm hospitality and meticulous attention to detail extended to the FCA delegation throughout their week-long study visit in the Philippines. Chief Justice Mortimer also reflected on the enriching experience, highlighting the meaningful exchange of ideas and shared advancing to judicial excellence. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Philippine Supreme Court (SC) Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen expresses his gratitude to the Federal Court of Australia (FCA) on September 26, 2025 at Shangri-la The Fort, Manila in Taguig City for the meaningful exchange of ideas during the FCA’s week-long study visit in the Philippines. Held under the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the SC and FCA to promote judicial cooperation, the visit featured a series of collaborative engagements. Acting Chief Justice Leonen also commended SC Associate Justices Maria Filomena D. Singh and Antonio T. Kho, Jr., Chairperson and Co-Chairperson of the Special Organizing Committee for the FCA Visit, for successfully leading the event despite many challenges. He expressed pride in the dedication and professionalism of all Court officials and personnel involved. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Acting Chief Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen (center, right) and Federal Court of Australia (FCA) Chief Justice Debra Sue Mortimer (center, left) discuss the progress of their joint initiatives under the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) and FCA, during a courtesy call on September 26, 2025 at Shangri-la The Fort, Manila in Taguig City. The meeting also covered updates on the SC’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) and preparations for upcoming collaborative projects in 2026. Joining them are (clockwise, inner seats from left) Australian Embassy of the Philippines (AEP) Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Moya Collett, FCA Justice Stephen Burley, SC Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, SC Deputy Chief Justice Staff Head Atty. Antonio Ceasar R. Manila; (outer seats) AEP Senior Program Officer Development Ria Go-Tian, and FCA International Programs Manager Martin Clutterbuck. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)