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OCA CIRCULAR NO. 295-2022

TO ALL MULTI-SALA COURTS INVOLVING NEWLY-

CREATED COURTS, STATUTORY FAMILY COURTS,
AND REGULAR REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

SUBJECT: REVISED GUIDELINES ON THE PAIRING SYSTEM

OF MULTI-SALA COURTS INVOLVING NEWLY-
CREATED COURTS, STATUTORY FAMILY COURTS,
OR REGULAR REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

In its Resolution dated 28 June 2022 in A.M. No. 03-8-02-SC (Re:

Guidelines on the Selection and Designation of Executive Judges and Defining
their Powers, Prerogatives and Duties), the Court en bane APPROVED the
following revised guidelines on the pairing system of multi-sala courts involving
newly-created courts, statutory Family Courts or regular Regional Trial Courts
(RTCs):

(i) The existing pairing system adopted by the multi-sala courts

shall be maintained. If a statutory Family Court is established in the
station, the statutory Family Court shall be paired with the court with
the last branch number.

For example, in a station of the RTC with five (5) branches,

i.e., Branches 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the statutory Family Court,
whatever its branch number may be, like Branch 6-FC or Branch 16-
FC, shall be paired with Branch 14 although the Family Court is
lower or higher in branch number.

(ii) In case there is/are newly-created court/s, the previous

pairing system shall be maintained. The newly-created court/s,
irrespective of its/their numerical branch, shall be paired with the
court having the last branch number.

For example, in a station of the RTC with six (6) branches

including the statutory Family Court, i.e., Branches 10, 11, 12, 13,
14 and 6-FC, if there is only one (1) newly created-court, Branch 15,
the said court shall be paired with the branch presided by the
Executive Judge. If there are two (2) newly-created courts, Branches
15 and 16, both courts shall be paired with each other.
 (iii) Any branch in a station left without a pair shall be paired
with the branch presided by the Executive Judge in addition to the
latter's regular paired branch.

(iv) In case of vacancy in the two (2) branches paired with each
other, or the prolonged absence of both presiding judges of the
paired branches, the Executive Judge shall take cognizance of all the
cases thereat as acting judge.

Thus, as a general rule, the date when the Family Court, or any
other special court, or newly-created court was organized, will be
considered in determining its pairing court.

Any prior circular from the Office of the Court Administrator on this
matter which is contrary to the foregoing is hereby deemed superseded.

These guidelines shall take effect immediately.

For your information, guidance, and strict compliance.

21 October 2022 .

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M MA / ~ / fr; / circular-guidelinesonthepairingsystemofmscinvolvingnccsFCsrRTCs.doc