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<div>
Don Cayetano Arellano at his desk in 1899 (Photo credit:  Philippine photographs digital archives, University of Michigan digital library).
</div>
</div>
<p>
General Otis as Military Governor of the Philippines appointed the following judges for the chambers of the new  Supreme Court: 
</p>
<ul class="k-list">
<li>
President of the Supreme Court, Don Cayetano Arellano.
</li>
<li>
President of the Civil Branch, Don <a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3073/today-in-filipino-history-january-1-1853-manuel-araullo-was-born-in-balayan-batangas" class="news_link">Manuel Araullo</a> assisted by Don Gregorio Araneta and Lieutenant Colonel E. H. Crowder. 
</li>
<li>
President of the Criminal Branch, Don Reymundo Milleza  assisted by Don <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/799/today-in-philippie-history-december-7-1830-ambrosio-rianzares-bautista-lawyer-and-gen-emilio-aguinaldo-s-confidante-was-born-in-bi-an-laguna" class="news_link">Ambrosio Rianzares</a>, Don <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2746/today-in-philippine-history-may-22-1863-julio-llorente-first-governor-of-cebu-and-of-samar-was-born-in-argao-cebu" class="news_link">Julio Llorente</a>, Major R. W. Young, and Captain W. E. Birkhimer. 
</li>
<li>
Attorney of the Supreme Court,  Don Florentino Torres with Don Dionicio Chanco as his associate.
</li>
</ul>

<p>
Of the nine justices six were Filipinos and three were Americans.  The president of the Supreme Court and the chairmen of the chambers were all  Filipinos who had long rendered service as judges during the Spanish regime. The attorneys were all natives Filipinos.
</p>

<p>
The military commission abolished the notoriously slow criminal procedure of Spain and instituted a speedy and public trial of the accused. 
</p>
<p>
The old system of commencing proceedings without first serving notice to the defendant of the charges made against him  was abolished. 
</p>
<p>
Under the new system the defendant is fully informed of the claim against him. He has the right to appear and defend himself at the trial which causes no unnecessary delay. In all cases, the accused is entitled to bail which was not extended to him in the past. 
</p>
<p>
This much needed reform relieved the prisons of Manila.
</p>

<h5>
Source:
</h5>
<ol class="article-sources">
<li>
The development of self-government in the Philippine Islands, <br/>Victoriano  Diamonon, Iowa City, Iowa , 1920
</li>
<li>
Philippine News Agency archives
</li>
</ol>
</i>
</small>
</p>

January 30, 1899: the Supreme Court was organized in Manila