Statute
Code of Muslim Personal Laws
198 provisions · showing BOOK FOUR › TITLE I › CHAPTER II (10) · source
Article 150
(1) Shari'a Circuit Courts shall be established as follows: (a) Six such courts in the Province of Sulu; (b) Eight in the Province of Tawi-Tawi; (c) Ten in and for the Provinces of Basilan, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the Cities of Dipolog, Pagadian, and Zamboanga; (d) Twelve in and for the Provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur and the Cities of Iligan and Marawi; (e) Fifteen in and for the Province of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato. (2) The territorial jurisdiction of each of the Shari'a Circuit Courts shall be fixed by the Supreme Court on the basis of geographical contiguity of the municipalities and cities concerned and their Muslim population.
Article 151
Each Shari'a Circuit Court shall be presided over by a Shari'a Circuit Judge to be appointed by the President of the Philippines.
Article 152
No person shall be appointed judge of the Shari'a Circuit Court unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least twenty-five years of age, and has passed an examination in the Shari'a and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) to be given by the Supreme Court for admission to special membership in the Philippine Bar to practice in the Shari'a Courts.
Article 153
Shari'a Circuit judges shall be appointed to serve during good behavior until they reach the age of sixty-five years or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office, unless sooner removed for the same causes and in the same manner provided by law for judges of Municipal Circuit Courts.
Article 154
Shari'a Circuit judges shall receive the same compensation and enjoy the same privileges as judges of Municipal Circuit Courts.
Article 155 · cited in the answer
The Shari'a Circuit Courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over: (1) All cases involving offenses defined and punished under this Code. (2) All civil actions and proceedings between parties who are Muslims or have been married in accordance with Article 13 involving disputes relating to: (a) Marriage; (b) Divorce recognized under this Code; (c) Betrothal or breach of contract to marry; (d) Customary dower (mahr); (e) Disposition and distribution of property upon divorce; (f) Maintenance and support, and consolatory gifts, (mut'a); and (g) Restitution of marital rights. (3) All cases involving disputes relative to communal properties.
Article 156
(1) Shari'a Circuit Courts shall have the same officers and other personnel as those provided by law for Municipal Circuit Courts. (2) The pertinent provisions of the Judiciary Law regarding the number, qualifications, appointment, compensation, functions, duties and other matters relative to the personnel of the Municipal Circuit Courts shall apply to those of the Shari'a Circuit Courts.
Article 157
Shari'a Circuit Court may hold session anywhere within their respective circuits, but each shall have a principal station to be fixed by the Supreme Court.
Article 158
The Shari'a Circuit Courts shall be governed by such special rules of procedure as the Supreme Court may promulgate.
Article 159
The provisions of all laws relative to Municipal Circuit Courts shall, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with this Code, be applicable to the Shari'a Circuit Courts.