Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae faces pressure over justice nominations

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is facing increasing pressure from the ruling party regarding the delay in nominating a successor for retired Justice Noh Tae-ak. While Cho previously indicated he would make an official statement, his response has been delayed following a recent bereavement.

The dispute centers on the nomination process. The Presidential Office has requested a re-nomination after rejecting the initial candidate, Son Bong-gi, suggesting a preference for selecting from the existing pool of recommended candidates rather than forming a new recommendation committee. However, legal circles suggest the Court may opt to reconstruct the committee to select new candidates, a process that could take several months.

The ongoing vacancies in the Supreme Court are raising concerns about significant trial delays. This includes potential disruptions to the En Banc proceedings for high-profile cases involving figures such as Kim Keon-hee, Lee Sang-min, and Han Duck-soo. There are concerns that if these judicial delays persist, defendants in certain cases could be released upon the expiration of their detention periods before final verdicts are reached.