The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, decided to summon Chief Justice Jo Hee-de. The stated aim is to question him about the delay in recommending candidates for Supreme Court justice and the referral of the case involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee to the full bench.
The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a full meeting on the 19th. Rep. Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party of Korea argued during the meeting that Chief Justice Jo should be summoned. Seo Young-kyo, the committee chair, then put to a vote the "motion to summon the chief justice" submitted by Rep. Kim, and it passed under the Democratic Party of Korea's lead.
Rep. Kim cited as reasons to summon Chief Justice Jo to the committee: ▲ the process of recommending candidates for Supreme Court justice conducted after a long vacancy ▲ the referral of the case involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee to the Supreme Court full bench ▲ the referral of the insurrection case involving former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min to the Supreme Court full bench ▲ and failing in that process to comply with the special prosecutor act that required the first trial within six months and the second and third trials each within three months.
Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party said, "The presidential office abused its authority by intervening in advance in the chief justice's power to recommend candidates, and now it is pinning the blame on a chief justice who exercised that legitimate authority," adding, "Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers coming in late today after a strategy huddle means they want to summon the chief justice and hold a humiliation hearing."
Joo went on, "If the president or the ruling party won't appoint a Supreme Court justice, they can state the reasons and simply not appoint," adding, "Why suddenly call the chief justice to a settlement of account meeting?"
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said at the supreme council meeting that day, "I believe Jo Hee-de, the worst chief justice since liberation, should step down," adding, "Chief Justice Jo's conduct is like a delinquent student who smashes a window and then begs to be expelled, saying they won't study."
The day before, Chief Justice Jo recommended Presiding Judges Son Bong-gi and Kim Sung-soo to President Lee Jae-myung to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak and Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu. The appointment process had been delayed as the Supreme Court and the presidential office clashed over the selection to replace former Justice Roh.
The previous day, Chief Justice Jo recommended the Supreme Court justice candidates in writing. Ruling party figures strongly criticized this as breaking the custom in which the chief justice coordinates with the presidential office and then visits the president to make an "in-person recommendation."
Last Oct., Chief Justice Jo attended the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee during a parliamentary audit, but then-committee chair Choo Mi-ae did not permit him to leave, and he was subjected for 90 minutes to jeers, insults, and shouting from ruling party lawmakers. Independent Rep. Choi Hyuk-jin even held a hand sign with Chief Justice Jo's face photo composited with "Toyotomi Hideyoshi." Until then, the practice during parliamentary audits had been for the chief justice to deliver opening remarks and then leave, with the director of the National Court Administration (a Supreme Court justice) answering questions.