Tshaine Ballad Taguinod-Maggay

Presiding Judge, Municipal Trial Court of Tabuk City

Philippines

Tshaine Ballad Taguinod-Maggay is the presiding judge of the municipal trial court of Tabuk City, where she seeks to advance the rule of law for Indigenous communities. Since 2023, she has achieved a 73 percent reduction in her court’s case backlog and secured funding for a clean and safe judicial space for all members of the public. Moved by her own family’s experience with systemic abandonment following the tragic deaths of her parents, Tshaine works to ensure no citizen faces similar legal neglect. She is currently studying concepts from other jurisdictions on how to transform the local judiciary by integrating traditional Bodong tribal systems and transparency in legal mediations, moving beyond punitive measures to offer therapeutic healing for victims. Tshaine’s leadership style balances systemic reform with a nurturing environment that empowers her court personnel to grow as changemakers.