Democratic Party Withdraws 'Non-Lawyer Supreme Court Justice Bill' and '100 Justices Expansion Bill'

Democratic Party Appears to Slow Down Pressure on the Judiciary

On May 26, the Democratic Party of Korea announced that it would withdraw both the proposed amendment to the Court Organization Act that would allow non-lawyers to be appointed as Supreme Court justices and the bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to 100.

On the afternoon of the 1st, Chief Justice Choi Hee-dae and Supreme Court justices entered the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to deliver the verdict on the appeal trial of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, regarding the violation of the Public Official Election Act. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The Democratic Party's Central Election Committee's Public Relations Team stated in a notice sent to reporters that day, "The election committee has decided to withdraw the bill submitted by Representative Park Beomgye to allow non-lawyers to be appointed as Supreme Court justices, as well as the bill submitted by Representative Jang Kyungtae to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to 100, and has instructed the respective lawmakers accordingly."

Previously, the Democratic Party had introduced these bills with the intention of reforming the judiciary after the Supreme Court concluded the appeal trial of presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung's violation of the Public Official Election Act by overturning the verdict with a guilty ruling. Representative Park, who serves as the Democratic Party's secretary on the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, was the main sponsor of the amendment to the Court Organization Act that would allow the appointment of non-lawyers as Supreme Court justices by adding the qualification of "a person of learning and virtue, with extensive experience in various professional fields, and with knowledge of the law." Representative Jang was the main sponsor of the amendment to the Court Organization Act to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 100.

In response, the People Power Party criticized the 'non-lawyer appointment bill,' saying it was "an attempt to create a 'Lee Jaemyung bulletproof court, a pro-Democratic Party kangaroo court,' which is a dangerous move that fundamentally shakes the foundations of the rule of law and the separation of powers." Regarding the '100 justices bill,' Chon Daeyeop, Director of the National Court Administration, expressed concern at a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting on the 14th, stating, "If only the number of Supreme Court justices is increased in a situation where trial delays are already severe, it will result in significant disadvantages for the public."

As the controversy continued, candidate Lee Jaemyung stated on the 24th, "(These bills) are merely individual legislative proposals by individual lawmakers and do not represent the position of the Democratic Party or myself," adding, "Granting Supreme Court qualifications to non-lawyers or non-legal professionals should be approached with caution."

Ultimately, it is interpreted that the election committee decided to withdraw the bills, judging that the controversy should not persist with the early presidential election just ahead.