Investigation finds justice could have influenced U.S. beef protest trials

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- A Supreme Court justice was referred to a judiciary
ethics committee Monday after an internal investigative panel concluded that his
actions could have influenced junior judges in trials involing protesters of U.S.
beef imports.
Justice Shin Young-chul was put under a probe by the panel early this month after
he was found to have sent confidential emails to junior judges between October
and November last year when he was serving as head of the Seoul Central District
Court. The emails asked the judges "speed up" the trials of individuals arrested
for violence during the months-long anti-U.S beef rallies.
The protests shook the nascent Lee Myung-bak government that had just taken
office a few months earlier.
In October, a judge stirred controversy by asking the Constitutional Court to
look into the legitimacy of an existing law that bans outdoor demonstrations
after sunset. Another judge suspended a trial and ordered the release of two
defendants who were involved in the anti-U.S. beef protests.
When a case is taken to the Constitutional Court, related cases are postponed
until a ruling is made.
Shin was accused of calling the judges and advising them to make their decisions
"cautiously" to avoid any social confusion.
He is also suspected of having met the chief justice of the Constitutional Court
to review the schedule of the legal proceedings on beef demonstrations.
"There is a possibility that his acts influenced some of the trials, as he
repeatedly sent emails to speed them up," the investigative panel said. The panel
was formed immediately after Shin's emails were leaked to the public.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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