Practice question
A lawyer who is a Philippine citizen solely by ordinary naturalization is fifty years old and has twenty years of distinguished Philippine law practice. She seeks appointment to the Court of Appeals, a lower collegiate court. Her supporters argue that experience and integrity compensate for the lack of natural-born citizenship. All other requirements are met. What is the constitutional answer?
- She cannot satisfy the natural-born qualification for that collegiate court by substituting experience or integrity
- She qualifies because all lower courts require only residence
- She qualifies because the natural-born requirement applies exclusively to the Chief Justice
- She qualifies whenever the President prefers her
- She qualifies because reaching fifty automatically creates natural-born status
Legal references
- 1987 Constitution, Article VIII, Section 7, qualifications of members of the Judiciary: https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/3/353
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