Judges Keep Publishing Posts Criticizing Supreme Court; Cheongju Chief Judge Comments 'Time to Raise Our Voices'
"No more. It is time to raise our voices." That is the comment posted directly by the chief judge of the Cheongju District Court on the judiciary's internal network, CourtNet. As the Democratic Party pushes for a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and the judiciary's independence comes under threat, judges have been speaking out one after another, with some court and branch court chiefs signaling their agreement.
On the 30th of last month, Judge Sung Chan-yong of the Incheon District Court's Bucheon Branch (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 44) posted an article on CourtNet titled "On the Novel Animal Farm." Judge Sung noted that "the Chief Justice, the head of the judiciary, is under attack and criticism almost daily, while legislation and public opinion campaigns of unclear purpose and meaning run rampant." He emphasized, "We must stand up with dignity against unjust attacks."
Judges, including court chiefs, expressed their agreement in comments on the post. Jo Mi-yeon, chief judge of the Cheongju District Court (class 27), commented, "Those who attacked the judiciary and spoke of impeachment almost daily are now pushing for a parliamentary investigation after rulings unfavorable to them were handed down." She added, "This is an insult to all judges." Chief Judge Jo went on, "Who could guarantee they won't summon to a hearing a judge who ruled differently from the conclusion they had in mind, or put them on trial for distorting the law?" adding, "No more. It is time to raise our voices."
Yun Sang-do, chief judge of the Seoul Northern District Court (class 24), also wrote, "I fully agree with the post and the comments below it." Lim Hae-ji, chief judge of the Daegu Family Court (class 28), commented, "I pay my respects to the judge's courage. Thank you."
Han Yun-ok, chief judge of the Changwon District Court's Miryang Branch (class 35), emphasized the principle of separation of powers in a comment posted on CourtNet on the 2nd. She said, "The moment judicial independence and the separation of powers fail to have their independence respected—being encroached upon and threatened by political power driven by its political interests—the concept of 'democracy,' however it may be packaged, degenerates into an instrument of political rule."
Judge Kuk Yang-geun of the Gwangju District Court's Suncheon Branch (class 41) commented, "Has there ever been a time in constitutional history when political power so openly disregarded the separation of powers and intimidated the head of the judiciary?" He added, "It is truly bitter and deplorable to watch the reality in which judicial independence and South Korea's rule-of-law system are collapsing." He went on, "When even the Chief Justice is being slashed apart simply for being displeasing, can judges watching this truly rule according to their convictions, without minding the political powers that be?"
