Only One 'Suseok Jaepan Yeongugwan'... One in Three Became Supreme Court Justice

The Supreme Court's full bench consists of one Chief Justice and 12 Justices. There is one 'Senior Judicial Researcher' who assists the full bench. What kind of work does the 'Senior Judicial Researcher,' positioned directly below the Justices in the Supreme Court's task allocation chart, perform?

[Photo by Beopryul Newspaper]

The Senior Judicial Researcher, who has produced seven Justices (7 out of 19 Senior Judicial Researchers, 36.8%), receives reports on full bench cases from judicial researchers at the Supreme Court, adds their own opinions, and ensures that these reports are submitted to the Justices. The Supreme Court is divided into panels depending on the case, and typically the Senior Judicial Researcher reviews cases together with the lead judicial researcher, acting as the person responsible for overseeing the process. They are also in charge of the overall judicial administration of the Judicial Researcher Office.

The position of Senior Judicial Researcher was established in 1990.

According to reporting by Legal News, there have been 19 Senior Judicial Researchers, including those currently serving. Among them, only four individuals, including the current Senior Judicial Researcher, Chief Judge Hwang Jin-gu (53, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 24), continue to work at the court.

Those who have served as Senior Judicial Researchers include Seo Jeong-woo (80, Bar Exam 6th), the first to hold the position; the late Son Ji-yeol (Bar Exam 9th); Park Jae-yoon (75, Bar Exam 9th); Kim Dong-geon (77, Class 1); Kim Yong-dam (76, Class 1); Park Il-hwan (72, Class 5); Kim Neung-hwan (72, Class 7); Hong Seong-mu (69, Class 8); Park Hae-seong (68, Class 10); Kim Yong-deok (66, Class 12); Kwon Soon-il (64, Class 14); Song Woo-cheol (61, Class 16); Han Seung (60, Class 17); Hong Seung-myeon (59, Class 18), Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court; Yoo Hae-yong (57, Class 19); Kim Hyun-seok (57, Class 20); Ma Yong-ju (54, Class 23); and Oh Young-jun (54, Class 23), Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court.

One Chief Judge said, “The Senior Judicial Researcher needs organizational management skills that encompass both the chief research judges and judicial researchers, the ability to review cases to determine whether the judicial researchers’ examinations are appropriate, and an attitude aimed at smooth communication among the Justices. Since they must grasp all procedures, personnel, and the substance of cases until the Justices make a deeply considered decision, this position is reserved for the judge with the best legal expertise.”

Park Soo-yeon, Legal News Reporter

※This article is based on content supplied by Law Times.