A judges’ representative council will convene an emergency session on May 26 to discuss growing concerns over judicial independence and public trust in the courts, following the Supreme Court’s swift ruling in opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case.
The council, composed of judges representing courts nationwide, announced Friday that its second meeting of 2025 will take place at 10 a.m. at the request of multiple representatives. The agenda will include issues submitted by May 19 that are backed by at least four members. Additional topics can also be introduced during the session with the consent at least nine participants.
The rare move to convene an off-cycle meeting follows internal debates sparked by the handling of Lee’s case, which critics say was rushed and politically sensitive. Some within the judiciary reportedly argue that the Supreme Court should issue a formal expression of regret over what they view as an uncharacteristically expedited ruling that may undermine perceptions of political neutrality.
Others contend that the Democratic Party’s public calls for the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de and its push to hold a confirmation hearing amount to direct pressure on the judiciary and should be addressed as a violation of judicial independence.
The emergency meeting was prompted by an informal poll initiated by one of the representatives. After a brief extension, more than one-fifth of the council’s members voted in favor of convening the session, meeting the requirement to proceed.
Any resolutions passed will require the support of a majority of attending members. The outcomes of the meeting could signal how the judiciary plans to respond to mounting public and political scrutiny over its role in politically charged cases.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
