Sitting Chief Judge: "Supreme Court, Guilty Verdicts in Sexual Violence Cases Are Rampant... Please Respect Lower Courts"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A sitting chief judge criticized the Supreme Court for frequently issuing guilty verdicts in sexual violence case appeals, disregarding the lower courts' not guilty rulings.

On the 18th, according to the legal community, Chief Judge Jang Chang-guk of the Uijeongbu District Court wrote on the court's internal network, "The first and second trials handling sexual violence cases are in an uproar," adding, "There is widespread self-deprecation that 'even if a not guilty verdict is given, it will be overturned by the Supreme Court.'

Judge Jang said, "It is said that the Supreme Court has become a 'court of guilty verdicts,'" and questioned, "Could this be because the Supreme Court keeps interfering with factual determinations beyond the grounds for appeal stipulated in the Code of Civil Procedure?"

He continued, "It is necessary to respect the opinions of lower court judges who meet directly with defendants and witnesses and hear their appeals firsthand," and requested, "Regarding factual determinations, please momentarily set aside the belief that the Supreme Court justices are always right and trust the lower court judges."

He also emphasized, "The Supreme Court should only review whether the grounds for appeal apply and whether the principle of 'when in doubt, in favor of the defendant' has been upheld to guarantee the independence of the lower courts."