Tired, overworked judges? SC has an app for them

MANILA, Philippines — When it comes to job burnout, even court judges, with all their wisdom and powers, are not immune and may plead “guilty.”

To help members of the judiciary stay cool amid the stress and pressures of work, the Supreme Court has rolled out a new app so they can easily spot early signs of inner fatigue.

Launched on May 30, the Supreme Court’s “Judicial Burnout Scale app” was designed with Filipino judges in mind.

It was inspired by the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, which was adapted to suit the Philippine context, the high court said in a media statement on Tuesday.

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According to the high tribunal, the app considers Filipino cultural values like “hiya” (sense of shame), “pakikisama” (getting along with others), and “malasakit” (empathy), which shape how emotions are experienced and expressed.

“This tool not only detects warning signs of burnout; it will also guide the Court in designing mental health programs, policy reforms, and interventions that promote our judges’ overall well-being,” said retiring Associate Justice Mario Lopez, vice chair of the Supreme Court’s governing council for mental health.

Psychologists’ support

Citing findings by the World Health Organization, the Supreme Court said burnout is a workplace syndrome characterized by exhaustion, mental detachment, and reduced levels of performance.

“For judges and court staff, burnout can impair judgment, decision-making, and well-being, ultimately threatening the fairness and integrity of the justice system,” it said.

The Supreme Court said its technical working group that developed the app received crucial support from clinical psychologists Dr. Arnulfo Lopez, Dr. Antero Rosario Arias Jr., and Dr. Joy Tungol.

They held a focus group discussion with selected executives and presiding judges on March 20, followed by a pilot testing of the app on April 14, and a trial run on May 8.

For all court personnel

After finalizing the tool, the TWG tested the prototype with over 300 judges during the Regional Mental Health Summit in Davao City on May 23.

The Supreme Court said the app will be available to judges nationwide through a link to be sent by the high court. They can either download it through Microsoft Power Apps or access it through their mobile browser.

Plans are also underway to eventually make the tool available to all court personnel, the Supreme Court added. /cb