removed upon impeachment and conviction by the Legislature based on proved
misconduct, gross breach of duty, inability to perform the functions of their office,
or conviction in a court of law for treason, bribery or other infamous crimes.
Article 72
a. The Justices of the Supreme Court and all other judges shall receive such
salaries, allowances and benefits as shall be established by law. Such salaries shall
be subject to taxes as defined by law, provided that they shall not otherwise be
diminished. Allowances and benefits paid to Justices of the Supreme Court and
judges of subordinate courts may by law be increased but may not be diminished
except under a national program enacted by the Legislature; nor shall such
allowance and benefits be subject to taxation.
b. The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and judges
of subordinate courts of record shall be retired at the age of seventy; provided,
however, that a justice of judge who has attained that age may continue in office
for as long as may be necessary to enable him to render judgement or perform any
other judicial duty in regard to proceedings entertained by him before the attained
that age.
Article 73
No judicial official shall be summoned, arrested, detained, prosecuted or tried
civilly or criminally by or at the instance of any person or authority on account of
judicial opinions rendered or expressed, judicial statements made and judicial acts
done in the course of a trial in open court or in chambers, except for treason or
other felonies, misdemeanor or breach of the peace. Statements made and acts
done by such officials in the course of a judicial proceeding shall be privileged,
and, subject to the above qualification, no such statement made or acts done shall
be admissible into evidence against them at any trial or proceeding.
Article 74
In all matters of contempt of court, whether in the Supreme Court or in other
courts, the penalties to be imposed shall be fixed by the Legislature and shall
conform to the provision on Fundamental Rights laid down in this Constitution.
Article 75
The Supreme Court shall from time to time make rules of court for the purpose of
regulating the practice, procedures and manner by which cases shall be
commenced and heard before it and all other subordinate courts. It shall prescribe
such code of conduct for lawyers appearing before it and all other subordinate
courts as may be necessary to facilitate the proper discharge of the court’s
functions. Such rules and code, however, shall not contravene any statutory
provisions or any provisions of this Constitution.