Maria Lourdes Sereno

Maria Lourdes Sereno
Name	Maria Lourdes Sereno
Birth date	2 July 1960
Birth place	Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Occupation	Jurist; Academic
Alma mater	Ateneo de Manila University; University of the Philippines College of Law; Harvard Law School
Known for	24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Maria Lourdes Sereno

Maria Lourdes Sereno is a Filipino jurist and legal scholar who served as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Her tenure drew attention for decisions touching on human rights, Philippine Constitution interpretation, and clashes with the Philippine President and political actors. She has a background spanning Philippine law schools, international legal institutions, and public service in agencies such as the Department of Education (Philippines).

Early life and education

Born in Quezon City to a family engaged in public life, Sereno attended Assumption College Manila and completed undergraduate studies at Ateneo de Manila University. She graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law and placed highly in the Philippine Bar Examination. Sereno pursued postgraduate studies at Harvard Law School, where she earned a Master of Laws degree, and participated in programs at institutions including the Max Planck Institute and international legal conferences such as those hosted by the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Legal and academic career

Sereno clerked for jurists at the Court of Appeals of the Philippines and worked as a litigator at private firms with cases before the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the International Criminal Court. She served in the Department of Justice (Philippines) and as an adviser to the Philippine Senate on constitutional and legal reform, contributing to debates involving the Family Code of the Philippines and the Anti-Torture Act of 2009. In academia, she was a professor and researcher at the University of the Philippines, the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, and lectured at the Asian Development Bank Institute and regional fora including the ASEAN Law Association. Sereno held fellowships and consultancies with organizations such as the UNICEF Philippines, the International Development Law Organization, and the World Bank, addressing issues in administrative law and judicial reform across the Asia-Pacific.

Appointment as Chief Justice

In 2012, Sereno was nominated through the Judicial and Bar Council process and appointed Chief Justice by then-President Benigno Aquino III, succeeding Chief Justice Renato Corona. Her appointment followed a period of public vetting involving legal scholars, former justices such as Justice Hilario Davide Jr., Justice Artemio Panganiban, and commentators from outlets like The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler. As Chief Justice, she presided over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and administrative supervision of the Judiciary of the Philippines, participating in landmark cases addressing the Reproductive Health Law (Philippines), ABS-CBN franchise renewal disputes, and petitions concerning extrajudicial killings and human rights associated with the Philippine Drug War under President Rodrigo Duterte.

2018 impeachment and removal

Sereno became the subject of impeachment attempts from legislators allied with President Rodrigo Duterte amid controversies involving asset disclosure and administrative procedures. A quo warranto petition was filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida before the Supreme Court of the Philippines, challenging her appointment on alleged technical defects. Parallel impeachment complaints were filed in the House of Representatives of the Philippines with proponents including members of the House of Representatives leadership and political figures from various provinces. In a historic decision, the Supreme Court seated differently and presided over the quo warranto case, which culminated in her being declared ousted from office in 2018; the House of Representatives later voted on impeachment articles but the quo warranto ruling removed her prior to a trial in the Senate of the Philippines. The removal prompted debate among jurists, including former justices like Antonio Carpio and Adolfo Azcuna, as well as international organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Post-removal activities and legal challenges

Following her removal, Sereno pursued legal remedies and sought to clear her professional standing, filing petitions and appeals before Philippine courts and engaging with legal groups including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and civil society organizations like Transparency International and Amnesty International's regional offices. She faced administrative inquiries and petitions regarding retirement benefits and the status of decisions she participated in while on the bench. Sereno also returned to academic engagements, delivering lectures at institutions such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and international venues including Harvard Kennedy School and forums of the International Commission of Jurists.

Personal life and honors

Sereno is married and has children; her personal life has been subject to media coverage by outlets such as ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and Philippine Star. She received honors and recognitions from academic institutions and legal associations, including awards from the University of the Philippines and citations by legal bodies like the Philippine Bar Association and the Asian Law Institute. Sereno continues to be cited in discussions involving Philippine jurisprudence, constitutional law, and judicial independence by commentators in publications including The Manila Times and BusinessWorld.

Category:Filipino jurists Category:Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Category:University of the Philippines alumni Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni