The first’impeachment of judges’ procedure in the history of the constitution began in earnest. Constitutional Judge Lee Seok-tae (68, 14th Judicial Research and Training Institute) has been appointed as the chief judge in the case of impeachment judgment of Busan High Court Senior Judge Lim Seong-geun. This judge is the first constitutional judge who was a former lawyer who did not go through court or prosecution.
Constitutional Judge Lee Seok-tae in 2019 is admitted to the court of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Reporter Lim Hyun-dong
–
Lee Seok-tae, former government secretary of Roh Moo-hyun, head judge for’impeachment of Im Sung-geun’
– According to the legal community on the 5th, the Constitution appointed Lee Judge as the head judge for the impeachment trial against Judge Im. Judge Lee served as chairman of the Association of Lawyers for Progressive Democratic Society (Minbyun) in 2004 and co-representative of the Participation Solidarity in 2011. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, in 2003, he served as secretary for public service in the senior civil affairs office. During this period, Chief Min Jeong was President Moon Jae-in. From 2015 to 2016, he served as the chairman of the Special Investigation Committee on the Sewol ferry disaster.
The judge of the referee is in charge of explaining to other judges by conducting research and investigation on the facts of the case. It is also responsible for designating a researcher to investigate the case and to prepare a report. At the time of the 2016 impeachment trial for former President Park Geun-hye, former Constitutional Judge Kang Il-won served as the head judge.
28 days before the impeachment trial
– On the 4th, the Constitution received a resolution for impeachment prosecution from the National Assembly and initiated a hearing by the All-in-One Tribunal. As long as the head judge is decided, the constitutional judges conclude through the proceedings and deliberations. The deliberation is conducted in such a way that the judges of the referee give a summary of the review contents for each issue, and the rest of the judges give their opinions and conduct discussions. In this process, the judge must summon the chief judge in accordance with Article 30 of the Constitutional Court Act to hear oral arguments.
–
On the morning of March 10, 2017, the sentence of impeachment of President Park Geun-hye is being held at the Supreme Court of Justice in Jae-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, presided over by President Jeong-mi Lee, acting as the acting president of the Constitutional Court. Central photo
–
The impeachment of a judge is carried out when at least 7 of the 9 constitutional judges are present and 6 or more agree. Conversely, if more than 5 people give your opinion, your decision will be made. The impeachment trial must make a decision within a maximum of 180 days. If a decision to impeach is made, he will be dismissed from office. However, criminal or civil liability is not exempted. Responsibility for the prosecution’s investigation and trial should be separately.
However, the legal profession believes that there is a high possibility that the impeachment trial will be dismissed as the term of office of Judge Lim will end on the 28th. Noh Hee-beom, a former Constitutional Court researcher, said, “We have to open a pleading date, but it is difficult to end it with one time because the other party will also raise an objection.” There are many issues, such as whether it can be seen as, and since the case of impeachment of a judge was the first in the history of constitution, it is difficult to conclude before the 28th.”
Reporter Park Hyun-joo [email protected]
–
