ID :
88293
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 19:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/88293
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Opposition parties seek impeachment against chief justice over U.S. beef case
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Opposition parties submitted an impeachment motion
against the chief justice of the Supreme Court on Friday, claiming his
involvement in a case over American beef imports has compromised judicial
independence.
The motion against Shin Young-chul was signed by 105 lawmakers from all five
opposition parties. But chances of passage are rare, as the ruling Grand National
Party, with 169 seats in the 299-member National Assembly, has been reluctant to
oust the conservative chief justice.
Shin "assigned the candlelight vigil case to particular courts and sent emails to
responsible judges in plain interference with the litigation process," the
opposition parties said in the motion. "This behavior was an apparent breach of
the independence and jurisdiction of a judge, which is guaranteed by the
Constitution."
Shin, then chief justice of the Seoul Central District Court, sent a series of
emails to junior judges last year recommending that the trials of protesters
against U.S. beef imports proceed quickly and commenting that their night-time
rallies were illegal.
Hundreds of protesters were arrested and put to trial for organizing or
participating in candlelight vigils against President Lee Myung-bak's decision in
April last year to resume imports of U.S. beef unconditionally.
Fears of mad cow disease and anger over the abruptly announced policy prompted
record numbers of people to protest for months, demanding the beef deal be
renegotiated. The rallies led officials of South Korea and the U.S. to agree on a
moratorium on imports of U.S. beef from cattle over 30 months old.
The protests subsided, but litigation on the protesters remained controversial.
Shin, after being promoted to his current post this February, was found to have
sent emails to judges and consigned the trial cases to a limited number of
judges.
Shin was referred to an ethics panel and received a warning. But the panel did
not ask for his resignation or disciplinary measures, as demanded by opposition
parties and civic circles.
"For Chief Justice Shin to continue to serve in his official duty after engaging
in the behavior of shaking the root of judicial independence is a dereliction of
judicial independence for the Republic of Korea," the opposition said in the
motion.
It is the first time for the parliament to submit an impeachment motion against
an active-duty Supreme Court justice. The opposition parties, including the main
opposition Democratic Party, plan to put the motion to a vote in Monday's plenary
session, where they will need a majority vote to pass it.
Rep. Kim Jung-hoon of the Grand National Party dismissed the opposition move as
politically motivated.
"For the opposition to take an issue with the long-past chief justice issue
carries a politically driven intention to constrain the court," Kim said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
against the chief justice of the Supreme Court on Friday, claiming his
involvement in a case over American beef imports has compromised judicial
independence.
The motion against Shin Young-chul was signed by 105 lawmakers from all five
opposition parties. But chances of passage are rare, as the ruling Grand National
Party, with 169 seats in the 299-member National Assembly, has been reluctant to
oust the conservative chief justice.
Shin "assigned the candlelight vigil case to particular courts and sent emails to
responsible judges in plain interference with the litigation process," the
opposition parties said in the motion. "This behavior was an apparent breach of
the independence and jurisdiction of a judge, which is guaranteed by the
Constitution."
Shin, then chief justice of the Seoul Central District Court, sent a series of
emails to junior judges last year recommending that the trials of protesters
against U.S. beef imports proceed quickly and commenting that their night-time
rallies were illegal.
Hundreds of protesters were arrested and put to trial for organizing or
participating in candlelight vigils against President Lee Myung-bak's decision in
April last year to resume imports of U.S. beef unconditionally.
Fears of mad cow disease and anger over the abruptly announced policy prompted
record numbers of people to protest for months, demanding the beef deal be
renegotiated. The rallies led officials of South Korea and the U.S. to agree on a
moratorium on imports of U.S. beef from cattle over 30 months old.
The protests subsided, but litigation on the protesters remained controversial.
Shin, after being promoted to his current post this February, was found to have
sent emails to judges and consigned the trial cases to a limited number of
judges.
Shin was referred to an ethics panel and received a warning. But the panel did
not ask for his resignation or disciplinary measures, as demanded by opposition
parties and civic circles.
"For Chief Justice Shin to continue to serve in his official duty after engaging
in the behavior of shaking the root of judicial independence is a dereliction of
judicial independence for the Republic of Korea," the opposition said in the
motion.
It is the first time for the parliament to submit an impeachment motion against
an active-duty Supreme Court justice. The opposition parties, including the main
opposition Democratic Party, plan to put the motion to a vote in Monday's plenary
session, where they will need a majority vote to pass it.
Rep. Kim Jung-hoon of the Grand National Party dismissed the opposition move as
politically motivated.
"For the opposition to take an issue with the long-past chief justice issue
carries a politically driven intention to constrain the court," Kim said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
