Justice referred to ethics committee for possibly influencing trial proceedings

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- A Supreme Court justice was referred to a judiciary
ethics committee Thursday following an internal investigation that concluded his
actions may have influenced junior judges in trials involving protesters of U.S.
beef imports.
Justice Shin Young-chul was put under a probe by an internal investigation panel
early this month after he was found to have sent confidential e-mails to junior
judges between October and November last year, when he was head of the Seoul
Central District Court. The e-mails asked the judges to "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. The Supreme Court's internal
investigation body on Monday concluded that his actions could have influenced the
trials.
Kim Yong-dam, a former Supreme Court justice who oversaw the investigation, made
an official request to Choi Song-wha, the head of the court's ethics committee,
to review Shin's actions.
Choi is expected to convene a meeting in two to three weeks to deliberate,
according to court officials.
Shin has not yet said whether he intends to resign or stay. He participated in a
court session earlier in the day.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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