The Supreme Adjudicatory Council shall be composed of one (1) Adjudicator-General, who shall be a member of the Philippine Bar, and as many Associate Adjudicators-Generals as there are Administrative Regions, all of whom shall hold office during good behavior unless otherwise incapacitated, removed or resigned from office.

(b) The members of the Supreme Adjudicatory Council shall be appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Board of Directors: Provided, however, that if the appointment is made during the period when the General Assembly is in adjournment, the appointee shall exercise his powers and authority as hereinbelow set forth in an acting capacity until confirmation by the Board of Directors; and, Provided, finally, that in case of the failure of the Board of Directors to confirm the appointment during its regular sessions, the appointee shall exercise his functions in an acting capacity unless such appointment is withdrawn by the President.

(c) The Adjudicator-General shall be the Chief Legal Counsel in all cases filed by or against the organization, and, for that purpose, shall have the authority to deputize any of the Associate Adjudicators-Generals or any member of the Bar, to act for and in his name in any court or administrative agency exercising judicial or quasi-judicial powers.

Section 3. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Adjudicatory Council . – The Supreme Adjudicatory Council shall have the following powers:

(a) Exercise primary and original jurisdiction in all disputes and controversies involving actual rights which are demandable and enforceable, including –

[1] The interpretation of the provisions of the Code of By-Laws, and the allocation of powers as therein set forth;

[2] The validity of any contract entered into by the Executive Council, and/or any policy, rule or regulation of, the Board of Directors and/or the General Assembly;

[3] Controversies between two or more Regions, and between members of different Regions affecting their membership; and,

[4] The validity of the election or appointment and removal of any Executive Officer.

(b) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal the judgments and orders of the Regional Adjudicatory Councils.

(c) Promulgate rules of procedure, including compulsory processes to compel compliance with its processes, which shall provide for a simplified and inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, and shall be uniform for all Adjudicatory Councils and shall not diminish, increase or modify the substantive rights of the members.

(d) Appoint such personnel and staff as will insure the speedy and inexpensive resolution of all cases brought for adjudication.

Section 4. Regional Adjudicatory Council . –

(a) The Regional Adjudicatory Council shall be composed of a Regional Adjudicator and as many Associate Regional Adjudicators as there are Sections in the Administrative Region, all of whom shall hold office during good behavior unless otherwise incapacitated, removed or resigned from office.

(b) The members of the Regional Adjudicatory Council shall be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Regional Director, and confirmed by the Board of Directors: Provided, that if the appointment is made during the period when the Board of Directors is in adjournment, the appointee shall exercise his powers and authority as hereinbelow set forth in an acting capacity until confirmation thereof; and, Provided, finally, that in case of the failure of the Board of Directors to confirm the appointment during its regular or special session, the appointee shall exercise his functions in an acting capacity unless such appointment is withdrawn by the President.

Section 5. Original Jurisdiction of the Regional Adjudicatory Council . – The Regional Adjudicatory Council shall have original jurisdiction over disputes and controversies involving:

(a) The interpretation of the provisions of the Code of By-Laws, and the allocation of powers as therein set forth insofar as these refer to the Administrative Region;

(b) The validity of any contract entered into by the Regional Directorate, and/or any policy, rule or regulation of the Regional Conference;

(c) Two or more Sections, and between members of different and the same Sections affecting their membership;

(d) The suspension and expulsion of any member, in accordance with its internal rules and for causes as hereinabove set forth, provided that in cases of revocation of membership, the judgment of the Regional Adjudicatory Council shall be automatically appealed to the Supreme Adjudicatory Council whose judgment of expulsion shall be final only upon confirmation by the General Assembly; and,

(e) The validity of the election or appointment and removal of any Regional Officer.

Section 6. Finality of Judgments . – The decisions of the Adjudicatory Councils shall be final and executory unless a motion for reconsideration shall have been duly filed within a period of fifteen (15) days from notice thereof by the party affected. The Resolutions of the Regional Adjudicatory Council on any motion for reconsideration shall be final after fifteen (15) days from notice thereof, unless appealed to the Supreme Adjudicatory Council within the same period. No second or subsequent motions for reconsideration shall be entertained unless for clearly meritorious grounds.