By Yi Whan-woo
Judges at three main district courts in Seoul have agreed that the current evaluation of their performances for reappointment needs an overhaul. But they fell short of producing an agreement to support renegade judge Seo Ki-ho who was critical of President Lee Myung-bak.
In meetings Friday, the judges at the Seoul Central District Court, the nation’s largest district court, expressed displeasure with the way the Supreme Court’s screening committee evaluates judges, according to court officials.
They said in a statement that the current evaluation system “may interfere in the independence of trials,” demanding the current system should go under review for objectivity and transparency.
The Northern District and Western District courts also held meetings with similar agendas. None of the three courts, however, have come up with clemency for Seo who was not reappointed as a judge Friday.
Other judges at district courts across the nation will also hold a series of meetings on the Supreme Court’s fairness on performances evaluations this week.
The judges at courts in Suwon, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Uijeongbu will hold discussions this week. The judges at Suwon District and Daejeon District courts will convene meetings Tuesday and are expected to focus on the fairness of the performance evaluations.