25/08/2026
βοΈ **AUNTIE JURIS EXPLAINS: CAYETANO v. MONSOD**
π **Cayetano v. Monsod**
**G.R. No. 100113, September 3, 1991**
Pwede bang maging Chief Justice ang isang taong hindi naging βpracticing lawyerβ in the traditional sense?
π€ **YES.**
The Supreme Court explained that the Constitution does not require a candidate for Chief Justice to have spent his entire career in private law practice.
What matters is that the person meets the constitutional qualifications, including being a **natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 40 years old, and having been for 15 years or more a judge or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines.**
π‘ **Auntie Juris takeaway:**
Hindi lang naman private practice ang ibig sabihin ng βpractice of law.β Legal work may also involve government service and other activities requiring the application of legal knowledge and training.
ββοΈ **Law school lesson:** Always read the exact constitutional requirementβnot just the common meaning of a legal term.
π This video is created **for educational and academic discussion purposes only.** It is not intended to provide legal advice and is not affiliated with the Supreme Court of the Philippines or any law school, review center, or legal institution.