Chief justice steps up judicial reform drive
Investigation into ‘blacklist of judges’ granted
By Lee Kyung-min
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Kim Meong-su
Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su will review a set of recommendations from a group of judges on reforming the judiciary. The conservative institution is reeling from a controversy that the Office of Court Administration (OCA) under the Supreme Court allegedly created “blacklist of judges” seeking to control and suppress liberal voices within the judiciary.
An earlier investigation led by a former top court justice concluded there was no such list without even looking into the computer at the OCA, in which password-protected files containing the list were allegedly stored.
Judges recommended by both the OCA and a group of more than 100 liberal judges who have demanded the top court clarify the allegation will establish a reform committee as early as this week.
The committee plans to come up with detailed measures before February next year, when courts nationwide conduct a regular reshuffle of about 3,000 judges and 15,000 judicial employees.
This came only days after Kim allowed a new investigation into the allegation, an issue he said undermines the morale, work ethic and spirit of judges, and also undercut the public faith in the judicial system.
Kim granted the new investigation following month-long meetings with all judges involved _ those at the OCA, those from the liberal group, those who investigated the allegation early this year, as well as Supreme Court justices.
Last week, key OCA officials, appointed by former Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae, were moved out of the powerful administrative body and to district courts, which signaled his resolve for reform.
Kim is likely to decide soon on whether to search the computer at the OCA, which liberal judges consider key in clarifying the allegation.
Meanwhile, the committee’s measures will include how to reform the current seniority-based promotion of judges to vice-ministerial-level posts within high courts nationwide.
Many judges have criticized the system under which only a handful of judges chosen by the chief justice are pressured to follow the political inclinations of their superior.
Kim said last month the most pressing issues include guaranteeing the independence of judges from both within the judiciary and from outside political pressure.
He also said measures should be established to guarantee judges can focus fully on trials and trials only.
Kim said he would seek to restore lost public trust by eradicating the customary practice of “respecting former high-ranking public officials” in the judicial circle. Under the long-held practice, often cited as a major social ill to be eliminated, courts have ruled in favor of cases defended by former prosecutors or judges for the first few years after they began working as lawyers following retirement.
Kim stressed the need to reform the OCA by having its resources devoted only to trials, not solidifying the standing and power of the institution.
The OCA oversees judicial affairs including personnel affairs, budget allocation and accounting, maintenance of judicial affairs-related buildings including courthouses and infrastructure.
The administrative office has been known to have only a small number of elite judges working there, and those with experience are said to be on the fast track to being promoted within the judiciary.