PRESIDING JUDGE
Here’s a term that lawyers, even judges, throw around rather freely; THE PRESIDING JUDGE.
Although the term to most people means, "that judge who presides (conducts hearings) in that Court, the "Presiding Judge" actually should not be used for just any judge.
In other jurisdictions, the "Presiding Judge" is the judge who has administrative supervision over the Courts in his area. Thus, a "presiding judge" has at least some sort of "moral ascendancy" over the other judges.
In the Philippines, that role is left to the "Executive Judge". So does that still leave special significance with the term "Presiding Judge" ?
The answer is yes! In the Philippines, the term "Presiding Judge" refers to a Judge of a single sala station, who, because he or she is all alone, necessarily performs some of the duties and functions of the Executive Judge.
Thus, in Lapu-Lapu City, for example, where there is only one Municipal Court, my friend, Judge Ester Veloso, is properly referred to as, "The Presiding Judge". Since the Regional Trial Court there is a multiple sala (several branches) court, there is no Presiding Regional Trial Judge, although they most certainly have an "Executive Judge". All the other judges, are simply, "Judges".
