Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae has postponed his announcement regarding the judicial nomination issue, which was expected this week.
On September 4, the Supreme Court issued a statement saying, "We are currently reviewing the matter carefully, and there will be no official announcement today. We will inform you as soon as the review is completed."
Previously, on August 28, Chief Justice Cho stated while leaving work that he was reviewing the request from the Blue House for a judicial nomination and would provide an official update if things were settled by the following week. However, he experienced a family bereavement and did not return to work until September 2, leading to the delay in his announcement.
On his first day back at work after the bereavement, Chief Justice Cho told reporters, "I have not discussed any work-related matters due to the family loss," adding, "I will listen to the developments and speak officially afterward."
Legal experts had anticipated that Chief Justice Cho would make an announcement by Sunday at the latest, but the Supreme Court's notice suggests that the announcement will likely come next week.
The delay appears to stem from concerns about a potential conflict with the Blue House. According to the current Court Organization Act, the Chief Justice must form a Judicial Nomination Committee each time a judicial candidate is nominated. This has led to speculation that Chief Justice Cho may reconstitute the committee and restart the nomination process. However, this could lead to several months of conflict with the Blue House, from the nomination to the National Assembly's confirmation hearing.
In fact, when then-judicial candidate Kim Byeong-hwa resigned in July 2012 due to various allegations, the Supreme Court had to form a new committee under the Court Organization Act, which took three months before the National Assembly approved the appointment.
Meanwhile, the confirmation hearing for judicial candidate Kim Seong-soo is scheduled for September 14. Kim Do-eup, a member of the ruling People Power Party, has been appointed as the chair of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Judicial Appointments, and he, along with the committee's co-chairs, Joo Cheol-hyun of the Democratic Party and Kim Hyeong-dong of the People Power Party, have agreed on this date.
To prepare for the hearing, the ruling and opposition parties will hold their first full committee meeting on September 8 to appoint the committee chair and co-chairs. After the hearing on the 14th, the committee will decide whether to adopt the report during a full meeting on the 16th.
The National Assembly has selected members for the confirmation committee, including Kim Do-eup and the co-chairs, as well as Democratic Party members Kim Young-ho, Kim Han-kyu, Kwak Sang-eon, Park Ji-hye, Boo Seung-chan, and Chae Hyun-il, along with People Power Party members Kang Min-guk, Yoon Yong-geun, and Joo Jin-woo, and Choi Hyuk-jin from the Justice Reform Party.
On August 18, Chief Justice Cho formally recommended judges Kim Seong-soo and Son Bong-ki to President Yoon Suk-yeol as successors to former Justices Roh Tae-ack and Lee Heung-gu. The Blue House submitted the appointment confirmation for Kim but requested a re-nomination for Son.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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