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The Justice Reform Initiative (JRI) is an umbrella institution composed of leading business organizations, foreign chambers, and civil society groups. It was formed in 2012 and officially established in October 2015, with the aim of being the principal voice of business and civil society in pushing for reforms in the administration of justice, and to work for the promotion and advancement of the rule of law, economic rights and justice.

The JRI traces its beginnings to a group of judicial reform advocates - Sherisa Nuesa, Atty. Francis Lim, Esther Magleo, Peter Wallace, Atty Santiago Dumlao Jr. and Atty. Zenaida Ongkiko, all members of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) - who pushed for the relaunch of the Judicial Reform Initiative in 2012. 

FINEX, together with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), formed a coalition of business organizations that formally launched the Judicial Reform Initiative, with the aim to work with the judicial and prosecutoriaI arms of government in order to achieve sweeping reforms that would help: address the long delays in the delivery of justice, improve access to justice for the poor and marginalized sectors, and correct the perceived widespread lack of integrity and, at times, competence in the courts. 

Soon after its inception, the Judicial Reform Initiative attracted support from other influential business and civil society groups. Fifteen organizations, including major foreign chambers, joined the initiative. The organization also formed a partnership with the Integrity Initiative Inc. (III), becoming an associate member represented on the III board.

The Judicial Reform Initiative was publicly launched during the Integrity Summit on September 18, 2012—an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce as part of The Arangkada Philippines Project (TAPP). At this event, the Judicial Reform Initiative presented a formal Statement for Judicial Reform to then Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The statement urged her to champion reforms that would promote judicial integrity, eliminate corruption, improve efficiency in court processes, and ensure a high standard of competence within the judiciary. This appeal referenced the 2011 World Bank Global Competitiveness Report, which had ranked the Philippines lowest among Southeast Asian nations in terms of judicial effectiveness.

Following a positive response from Chief Justice Sereno, the Judicial Reform Initiative began engaging in meaningful collaboration with the judiciary. The organization gained recognition not only from the Department of Justice but also from respected international bodies such as the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative. The Judicial Reform Initiative was later invited to participate in events hosted by the European Union Mission and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

On 29 October 2015, Judicial Reform Initiative was formally incorporated with nine member organizations. A significant development in February 2021 was that the Board, recognizing that its reform advocacy carries a wider societal reach, approved the renaming of Judicial Reform Initiative into Justice Reform Initiative. The change in name was adopted by two-thirds vote of its members in May 2021 and approved by the SEC on 9 March 2022.

Since its founding, JRI has actively engaged with successive Chief Justices of the Supreme Court—beginning with Chief Justice Sereno and continuing with her successors, excluding the brief tenure of Chief Justice Teresita de Castro. Its engagement continues under the leadership of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

JRI has submitted several significant petitions to the Supreme Court. These include the call for the operationalization of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB)—a body focused on addressing judicial corruption—and for a more humane approach to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both initiatives received favorable responses from the Court. The Judicial Integrity Board was formally organized in 2020.

In addition to petitions, JRI has issued statements supporting justice reforms and collaborated with other business organizations on these efforts. In 2023, JRI carried out a justice reform survey to gauge the business sector’s perception of the system (https://jri.org.ph/2023-justice-survey). Most recently, in February 2024, JRI co-sponsored a multi-sectoral forum with the Supreme Court titled “Freedom Through Justice Reforms.”