The National Assembly's Legislative Committee has approved a demand for Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae to attend a session on the 31st, led by the ruling party. This move comes after Jo failed to respond to a previous request on the 19th, prompting renewed pressure.
During a full committee meeting on the 21st, the Legislative Committee passed a resolution requiring both Chief Justice Jo and Administrative Office of the Courts Director Noh Kyung-pil to appear as witnesses. They are mandated to attend the session scheduled for the 31st.
Previously, Chief Justice Jo had recommended the appointments of judges Son Bong-ki and Kim Sung-soo to President Lee Jae-myung as successors to former Justices Roh Tae-ack and Lee Heung-gu. This process sparked controversy as Jo broke with the traditional practice of making in-person reports to the Blue House, opting instead for a written recommendation. The Democratic Party has raised concerns about this deviation from established protocol.
The dispute over the written recommendation method has intensified, with the Democratic Party calling for Jo's resignation and suggesting the possibility of impeachment. In response, the People Power Party has accused the opposition of attempting to seize control of the judiciary, labeling it an 'unprecedented outrage' in the nation's constitutional history.
Legislative Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo explained that the demand for witness attendance is related to issues such as violations of citizens' basic rights due to delays in Supreme Court rulings, the process of recommending Supreme Court candidates after a prolonged vacancy, and the undermining of expedited trials as mandated by the Special Prosecutor Act in the Kim Geon-hee case. The People Power Party protested against Chair Seo, accusing her of 'legislative dictatorship' and subsequently left the meeting, boycotting the vote.
This marks the second time the Legislative Committee has demanded Chief Justice Jo's attendance following the written recommendation. A similar resolution was passed on the 19th, but Jo did not attend. According to the National Assembly Act, the National Assembly or its committees can require the attendance of the Chief Justice, the Constitutional Court Chief Justice, the Chairperson of the National Election Commission, the Auditor General, or their representatives for inquiries on specific matters.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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