The Seoul High Court is forming a forum to discuss reducing the workload of its judges. The move follows the recent discovery of High Court Judge Shin Jong-o, who presided over the appellate trial in the case of Kim Keon-hee, found dead.
According to legal sources on the 12th, the Seoul High Court decided to set up a task force (TF) to discuss ways to reduce judges' workloads and improve the trial system. The TF is expected to discuss case allocation methods, issues in court operations stemming from a rise in fast-track cases, and ways to manage judges' workloads.
The measure was prepared after High Court Judge Shin, who served on Criminal Division 15-2 of the Seoul High Court, was found dead on court grounds on the 6th. Shin was known to have complained to those around him about the burden from an increased workload before the death.
Criminal Division 15-2 of the Seoul High Court has recently handled a series of major criminal cases. After Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court was designated as the panel in charge of insurrection cases, the cases it had been handling were transferred to Criminal Division 15, and Shin also presided over the appellate trial in the case involving Kim.
The appellate trial in Kim's case proceeded in a short period. The special prosecutor laws on insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and fallen Marines set the so-called "6-3-3" principle for speedy trials, requiring the first instance to conclude within six months and the appeals and Supreme Court reviews within three months each. Kim's case was filed with Criminal Division 15-2 of the Seoul High Court on Feb. 6, and the appellate ruling was delivered on the 28th of last month.
The Seoul High Court plans to assign High Court Judge Lee Hee-jun as presiding judge of Criminal Division 15-2, which has been left vacant.