Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera (born Ameurfina Aguinaldo Melencio; 11 May 1922 – 12 October 2020) was a Filipino lawyer who served as an Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court from 1979 to 1992. She was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court,[3] filling the vacancy left by the retirement of the first female Supreme Court Justice, Cecilia Muñoz-Palma.
Melencio-Herrera died on 12 October 2020 at the age of 98.[4]
Early career
Herrera studied law at the University of the Philippines and graduated cum laude in 1947. She topped the 1947 Philippine Bar Examinations with a 93.85% bar rating.[5] She has attained the highest rating for all women bar examinees in Philippine Bar history. After a brief stint with a New York City law firm, Herrera engaged in private practice for several years until she was appointed to the judiciary. From 1962 to 1973, Herrera served as a trial court judge assigned in Quezon Province, then the City of Manila. She was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1973.
Herrera was elevated to the Supreme Court by PresidentFerdinand Marcos in 1979. When Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency following the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the incumbent members of the Supreme Court, all of whom were Marcos appointees, were asked to resign. Herrera, along with Claudio Teehankee Sr., Vicente Abad Santos, Nestor Alampay, and Hugo Gutierrez Jr. were the only incumbent justices who retained their seats on the bench. Aquino, however, opted to extend new appointments to these justices in lieu of extending their previous appointment by Marcos. Prior to re-appointing Herrera, Alampay and Gutierrez Jr. on 16 April 1986, Aquino appointed three new members to the Supreme Court, Jose Feria, Marcelo Fernan and Andres Narvasa. As a result, Herrera, Alampay and Gutierrez Jr. were supplanted in seniority by the Aquino appointees.
When Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan resigned in 1992 to run for the vice-presidency, Herrera was widely regarded as a leading contender to replace him. Because she was overtaken in seniority by Narvasa after the 1986 reorganization, however, it was Narvasa who was named Chief Justice, although Herrera had served on the Court longer.
Herrera retired in May 1992, and was named as the Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy upon its inception in 1996. The academy is tasked with the professional training of members of the Philippines judiciary. Herrera served as Chancellor until May 2009.
References
Sevilla, Victor J. (1985). Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol III. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers. pp. 149–151. ISBN971-10-0139-X.
Supreme Court E-library: The Memorabilia Room[permanent dead link]; accessed 27 April 2015.
^Beltran-Gonzalez, Michaela (1984). Filipino Women in Nation Building: A Compilation of Brief Biographies : Dedicated to the Decade of Women Proclaimed by the United Nations, 1975-1985. Phoenix Publishing House. p. 219.
^"SC Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino passes away". Sun.Star. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
ameurfina, melencio, herrera, this, philippine, name, married, women, birth, middle, name, maternal, family, name, aguinaldo, birth, surname, paternal, family, name, melencio, marital, name, herrera, born, ameurfina, aguinaldo, melencio, 1922, october, 2020, f. In this Philippine name for married women the birth middle name or maternal family name is Aguinaldo the birth surname or paternal family name is Melencio and the marital name is Herrera Ameurfina Melencio Herrera born Ameurfina Aguinaldo Melencio 11 May 1922 12 October 2020 was a Filipino lawyer who served as an Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court from 1979 to 1992 She was the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court 3 filling the vacancy left by the retirement of the first female Supreme Court Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma The HonourableAmeurfina Melencio Herrera98th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the PhilippinesIn office 17 January 1979 1 11 May 1992Appointed byFerdinand MarcosPreceded byCecilia Munoz PalmaSucceeded byJose MeloPersonal detailsBornAmeurfina Aguinaldo Melencio 1922 05 11 11 May 1922 2 Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija Philippine IslandsDied12 October 2020 2020 10 12 aged 98 Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija Philippines Contents 1 Personal life 2 Early career 3 Supreme Court 4 References 5 NotesPersonal life EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Born in Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija to Jose P and Carmen nee Aguinaldo Melencio Herrera was a granddaughter of Emilio Aguinaldo the first President of the Philippines Among the future Justice s baptismal godfathers was Supreme Court justice George A Malcolm who also happened to be the founder of the law school she would later attend the University of the Philippines College of Law Melencio Herrera died on 12 October 2020 at the age of 98 4 Early career EditHerrera studied law at the University of the Philippines and graduated cum laude in 1947 She topped the 1947 Philippine Bar Examinations with a 93 85 bar rating 5 She has attained the highest rating for all women bar examinees in Philippine Bar history After a brief stint with a New York City law firm Herrera engaged in private practice for several years until she was appointed to the judiciary From 1962 to 1973 Herrera served as a trial court judge assigned in Quezon Province then the City of Manila She was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 1973 Supreme Court EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Herrera was elevated to the Supreme Court by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1979 When Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency following the 1986 EDSA Revolution the incumbent members of the Supreme Court all of whom were Marcos appointees were asked to resign Herrera along with Claudio Teehankee Sr Vicente Abad Santos Nestor Alampay and Hugo Gutierrez Jr were the only incumbent justices who retained their seats on the bench Aquino however opted to extend new appointments to these justices in lieu of extending their previous appointment by Marcos Prior to re appointing Herrera Alampay and Gutierrez Jr on 16 April 1986 Aquino appointed three new members to the Supreme Court Jose Feria Marcelo Fernan and Andres Narvasa As a result Herrera Alampay and Gutierrez Jr were supplanted in seniority by the Aquino appointees When Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan resigned in 1992 to run for the vice presidency Herrera was widely regarded as a leading contender to replace him Because she was overtaken in seniority by Narvasa after the 1986 reorganization however it was Narvasa who was named Chief Justice although Herrera had served on the Court longer Herrera retired in May 1992 and was named as the Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy upon its inception in 1996 The academy is tasked with the professional training of members of the Philippines judiciary Herrera served as Chancellor until May 2009 References EditSevilla Victor J 1985 Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol III Quezon City Philippines New Day Publishers pp 149 151 ISBN 971 10 0139 X Supreme Court E library The Memorabilia Room permanent dead link accessed 27 April 2015 Notes Edit Reappointed to the Court on 16 April 1986 Beltran Gonzalez Michaela 1984 Filipino Women in Nation Building A Compilation of Brief Biographies Dedicated to the Decade of Women Proclaimed by the United Nations 1975 1985 Phoenix Publishing House p 219 SC Justice Carolina Grino Aquino passes away Sun Star 24 December 2012 Archived from the original on 16 April 2013 Retrieved 6 January 2013 Ex SC Justice Ameurfina Melencio Herrera dies 2001 2004 Bar Topnotchers Chan Robles Virtual Law Library Legal officesPreceded byCecilia Munoz Palma Associate Justice of the Supreme Court17 January 1979 11 May 1992 Succeeded byJose Melo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ameurfina Melencio Herrera amp oldid 1108097691, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
