Yoon's Side Files Multiple Objections to Constitutional Court Justices... "Difficult to Expect Fairness"

Claims Include "Former President of Uri Beop Yeonguhoe"
Objections to Trial Commencement on the 14th and Securing of Investigation Records

The office of President Yoon Suk-yeol filed a motion for disqualification on the 13th, stating that it is difficult to expect a fair trial from Justice Jeong Gye-seon of the Constitutional Court, who is presiding over the impeachment trial.

President Yoon's legal team stated, "We filed the motion for disqualification because there are circumstances that make it difficult to expect a fair trial from the justice." The legal team claimed, "Justice Jeong Gye-seon is a member and former president of the 'Uri Beop Yeonguhoe,' a progressive-leaning group within the judiciary, and during the parliamentary confirmation hearing on the 23rd of last month, he revealed prejudgments regarding the facts and legal assessments of this case in response to questions from lawmakers." They added, "Justice Jeong's spouse, lawyer Hwang Pil-gyu, is an attorney at the Gonggam Public Interest and Human Rights Foundation, and the chairman of that foundation is lawyer Kim Yi-su, who is the co-representative of the National Assembly's impeachment prosecution team."

According to the Constitutional Court Act, in addition to cases where a justice and a party to the trial are relatives, a motion for disqualification can be filed before the main trial if there are circumstances that make it difficult to expect a fair trial from the justice. The Constitutional Court may dismiss the motion if it is clearly intended to delay the litigation.

President Yoon's side also filed an objection, arguing that it is unfair for the Constitutional Court to have concluded the preparatory hearing process on the 3rd and to proceed with the formal trial on the 14th. They stated that until the impeachment trial decision regarding Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is made, "the proper composition of the bench remains uncertain," and therefore "they cannot participate in the trial sessions that have significant legal consequences." Additionally, they filed objections regarding the Constitutional Court's designation of five trial sessions at once and decisions related to the acceptance or rejection of evidence, such as securing investigation records currently underway for the impeachment trial.