Seoul: Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae pledged on Friday to pursue the "right path" to judicial reform through thorough discussions with the National Assembly, as the ruling Democratic Party (DP) prepares to pass a suite of reform bills. This announcement was made during a ceremony commemorating Korean Court's Day, marking Cho's first public statement on the DP's initiative to reform the judiciary by more than doubling the number of Supreme Court justices, among other changes.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho emphasized his commitment to conveying the judiciary's perspectives to the National Assembly and, through communication and persuasion, seeking the optimal path for the citizens. He highlighted the judiciary's ongoing dialogue with members of the legislature, government, academia, and media to identify the most effective means of achieving judicial justice.
Cho reiterated the judiciary's intent to present its views to the National Assembly, referencing past instances where the judiciary actively engaged in enhancing key judicial systems, centering on constitutional principles such as the separation of powers and judicial independence. The DP's proposed reform bills include increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 30, revising the selection process for Supreme Court justices and the evaluation method for judges, broadening public access to lower-court rulings, and introducing a preexamination system for search and seizure warrants. The party aims to pass the bills before the extended Chuseok holiday starting October 3.
Chief Justice Cho also underscored the necessity of maintaining judicial independence. "For the judiciary to wholly fulfill its dedicated calling, the independence of trials must be firmly guaranteed above anything else," he stated. His comments preceded an extraordinary meeting of court leaders nationwide to deliberate on their response to the ruling party's proposed reforms.
Cho expressed his intention to gather judges' opinions through the meeting. "As I always say, my wish is that there will be sufficient discussions through a public debate on the inherent functions of the judiciary, the reality of the current judiciary's manpower, and what is most desirable for the people," he remarked. During the meeting, court leaders highlighted the importance of the judiciary's involvement in the ongoing parliamentary discussions on judicial reform.
"As judicial reform is an important responsibility of the judiciary for the people and a task of the times, it must be carried out with full consideration of its impact on the public and society at large," they noted in a press release following the meeting. "We believe this requires a process of extensive discussions, deliberation, and public debate." They also stressed that judicial independence is vital to safeguarding basic rights and upholding the rule of law.
Additionally, the DP has proposed establishing a special court to adjudicate cases arising from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration in December. During a press conference on Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung criticized the Supreme Court's earlier stance that such a court might be deemed unconstitutional. "The Supreme Court is carrying out a comprehensive review" of the matter, Cho stated.