By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The number of supreme justices is to increase to 14 from the current 13 from next year.
The National Assembly passed a revised bill of the Court Organization Law, which calls for adding a supreme judge to current judge members on Sunday.
Under the revision, the minister of the National Court Administration, which has been occupied by an ordinary judge, will be taken by a supreme justice who will be appointed early next year.
The change came as part of efforts to separate the Supreme Court and its administrative body, resulting in guaranteeing the latter's independence in dealing with court-related matters.
``The minister of the National Court Administration was present at a general meeting of the Supreme Court. But his remarks made during the meeting had no binding elements,'' a Supreme Court spokesman said. ``Under the system, the minister could not control the administration body independently. That's one of the major reasons for the change in upgrading the status for the minister to supreme justice from ordinary judge.''
With two incumbent supreme judges set to retire in February and September in 2009, respectively, many legal experts see an official discussion regarding new supreme judges would begin from mid-2008. Due to the sudden change, however, the discussion is likely to begin months earlier than scheduled. It usually takes more than 40 days to appoint a new supreme justice.
To win the top status, candidates must go through a multi-screening processes run by an advisory committee of the Supreme Court.
Once the new law takes effect in mid-January, the advisory committee recommends several candidates to the Chief Justice Lee Yong-hoon. Lee is to report a final candidate to President Roh Moo-hyun. Once the candidate earns approval by the National Assembly, the President appoints the candidate as a new supreme justice. The procedure is likely to be wrapped up in February at the latest.
Chang Yun-ki, minister of the National Court Administration, stepped down on Dec. 20, ending his three-decade long career in legal circles. Currently, the vacant position is covered by Cha Han-sung, vice minister of the National Court Administration.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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