Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez has received the University of Nueva Caceres’ highest academic distinction by becoming the first recipient of the school’s Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa.
Marquez was conferred the honorary degree on Sept. 15, 2026 by the university, Southern Luzon’s oldest university, which was established in 1948.
The UNC cited Marquez for his contributions to the administration of justice and his more than three decades of service in the Judiciary.
UNC School of Law Dean Antonio C. Rivero noted Marquez’s career trajectory, from serving as a SC law clerk to eventually becoming a member of the High Court.
For Marquez, however, his long career in the Judiciary has been anchored on one non-negotiable value: integrity.
Asked by local media during a press conference what value he considers non-negotiable, Marquez answered in one word: “Integrity.”
Marquez has served the SC for 35 years, beginning as an intern and later as a law clerk to several justices.
He eventually became chief of staff to then Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, while concurrently serving as assistant court administrator, chief of the Public Information Office and SC spokesperson.
He later served as deputy court administrator before being appointed court administrator in 2010.
In 2021, Marquez was appointed as the 192nd Associate Justice of the SC.
Speaking to UNC law students, Marquez urged them to preserve their idealism and commitment to justice as they enter the legal profession.
“[A]s you enter the legal profession and learn what it means to be a lawyer, I ask that you do your best to keep your idealism, your optimism, your steadfast belief in the rule of law and the administration of justice,” Marquez said.
He also encouraged future lawyers to remain vocal against injustice and corruption.
“When you witness wrongdoing, do not be afraid to speak out,” he said.
Marquez said lawyers should use their profession not only for personal advancement but also to contribute to a more just society.
“Remember that you became a lawyer not only for yourself, but for others; not for the sake of present comfort, but because you are willing to fight for a brighter, more just future,” he told the students.
UNC President Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya described the conferment as a historic moment for the university, saying Marquez’s career reflects the institution’s commitment to education, public service, justice and human dignity.
“Justice Marquez’s life and career embody his ideals,” Lauraya said, adding that his name would hold a “singular place” in UNC history as the first recipient of the university’s honorary doctorate.
Marquez also cited the importance of progressive thinking in the Judiciary under Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, particularly in implementing reforms under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027.
Among these reforms is the electronic and regionalized Bar examinations, with UNC becoming one of the SC’s early partners as a local testing center.
For the 2026 Bar Examinations, UNC hosted 691 examinees at its campus.
Marquez said the university’s early partnership with the SC in the digitalization and regionalization of the Bar examinations reflects UNC’s progressive outlook.
“This early partnership between the Court and the UNC in the Court’s shift to digitalized and regionalized Bar examinations, as well as UNC’s continued service as a local testing center in the Bar examinations, should come as no surprise, since progressive thinking is embedded in the university’s DNA,” he said.
The honorary degree formally welcomed Marquez into the UNC alumni community and recognized a legal career that began within the SX and eventually led to the country’s highest court.#