An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was conferred on Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo by the University of Cebu (UC) School of Law on Sunday, in recognition of his contributions to justice administration and legal education.

The award was given during the school’s graduation ceremony held at the Seda Ayala Center in Cebu Business Park.

Gesmundo was honored by the university as “an individual of integrity” who has excelled in access to justice, leadership, and the delivery of responsive and real-time justice.

In his commencement address, the chief justice urged graduates to lead with integrity, innovation, and inclusion as they enter the legal profession.

He acknowledged the increasing role of technology in legal practice but emphasized that innovation must be guided by human judgment and conscience.

Gesmundo called on the new lawyers to challenge the status quo and support judicial reforms, referencing the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027, which aims to address systemic issues in the judiciary.

He also underscored the importance of inclusion in the legal system, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.

He cited the Unified Legal Aid Service, which requires lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono service to indigent clients, as a key initiative to ensure access to justice.

The University of Cebu School of Law, established in 2002, ranked fifth among law schools with 51 to 100 candidates in the 2024 Bar Examinations, with a passing rate of 74.32 percent.