The Presidential Office yesterday sparked a constitutional debate by nominating former grand justice Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) to be president of the Judicial Yuan.
The Presidential Office nominated Hsu and Supreme Court Judge Tsai Chung-tun as vice president of the Judicial Yuan and has forwarded their nominations, along with five others for the Council of Grand Justices, to the Legislative Yuan for ratification, Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said.
The nomination of Hsu and Tsai was based on their practical experience and academic renown, Chen said, adding that the five grand justice nominees — National Chia Yi University professor Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄), Judicial Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Chang Chiung-wen (張瓊文), National Taiwan University law professors Chan San-lin (詹森林) and Huang Chao-yuan (黃昭元), and human rights lawyer Huang Juei-min (黃瑞明) — were selected by a committee vote after five meetings.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Hsu Tzong-li said that he accepted his nomination because he believes it is not unconstitutional, seeing as he stepped down as a grand justice nearly five years ago.
There have been doubts raised about his nomination as the Constitution stipulates that individuals cannot hold a position for two consecutive terms.
A grand justice should step down for four years before they are nominated for another position, as anything sooner than that could affect their ability to independently judge matters, Hsu Tzong-li said.
He suggested that the nation amend the Constitution if the consensus is for grand justices not to hold another office after they step down, adding that the German Constitution clearly states in Article 4 that judges are not allowed consecutive terms nor are they allowed to be appointed again after stepping down.
Hsu Tzong-li also suggested that a constitutional amendment, should it come to that, should include a maximum age for grand justices, adding that the age cap should be set at 70.
Hsu Tzong-li said he would gladly abide by whatever the legislature decides, adding that it would be best if it were to ask for a constitutional interpretation from the Council of Grand Justices to “settle the matter once and for all.”
According to Presidential Office data, Hsu Tzong-li majored in constitutional studies and served as a member of the Executive Yuan’s Fair Trade Commission and president of the Taiwan Law Society.
Tsai majored in civil law and has previously been a judge at district courts and the Taiwan High Court, the office said.
Hsu Chih-hsiung also majored in constitutional studies with a primary focus on human rights and constitutional government; Chang is well-versed in administrative and civil law and has also been a judge at district courts, the High Court, the High Administrative Court and the Supreme Administrative Court; Huang Juei-min is a lawyer who specializes in civil law and was behind the Legal Aid Act (法律扶助法), the Judges Act (法官法) and the Fair and Speedy Criminal Trials Act (刑事妥速審判法); Chan specializes in civil law with a primary focus on civil contracts, German civil law, comparative civil law and consumer protection; and Huang Chao-yuan is an expert in constitutional law and international law, with a primary focus on judicial investigations into unconstitutional acts, human rights, international human rights and national status, the office added.
Additional reporting by CNA
Taiwan, which accounts for more than half of the global outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing market, is well-positioned to develop copackaged optics (CPO) and manufacture precision silicon photonics chips, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday. Silicon photonics are emerging as a mainstream optical communications technology and is seen as key to overcoming bottlenecks in AI computing power. The technology is a key project under the government’s New 10 Major AI Infrastructure Projects, with industry, government, academia and research institutions working to overcome critical technological hurdles and build a self-reliant silicon photonics supply chain, the ministry said. Nvidia Corp in March invested US$4
Palau’s president yesterday called for a “unified” Pacific response to a missile test by China in July, while Taiwan and its Pacific allies a day earlier at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and prosperity. China gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile in July, sparking condemnation from several Pacific leaders. The 18-member PIF being held in Palau was expected to release a communique after press time last night, with a formal response to the test possibly included. Palau, which invited Taiwan to attend sideline events as an aid partner, urged
China’s continued efforts to inject geopolitical rivalry into the region and disrupt Pacific nations’ discussions of regional issues warrant greater international attention, a foreign affairs official said yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) last week led a delegation to diplomatic ally Palau to attend events related to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit. However, the absence of some member-state leaders has been interpreted by some people as a sign of fracturing in Pacific unity. Thirteen PIF members were represented by their heads of state or government, while Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Samoa sent ministerial-level representatives, a diplomatic official
STATE DEPARTMENT: A US official said that Washington would provide more than US$150m for Pacific island nations, with Minister Lin Chia-lung welcoming the plans The US Department of State has announced partnerships with Taiwan on two Palau projects after Washington pledged more than US$150 million for Pacific island nations. Following the opening of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Palau on Sunday, the department on Tuesday issued a statement titled “Promoting Pacific Prosperity: US Engagement at the Pacific Islands Forum,” which said that the US’ commitment to the security and prosperity of Pacific island nations “is steadfast and enduring, and remains a core pillar of its ‘America first’ foreign policy.” Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced at the PIF Partners
RSS