Chen dislikes idea of age limitation on grand justices

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday suggested that a proposal to set up an age criteria for members of the Council of Grand Justices should not be included in the Organic Law of Judicial Yuan (司法院組織法).

Proposed amendments to the law, now under legislative review, seek to push for judicial reform. Chen therefore considered it improper for a KMT proposal to stipulate that grand justices must not be older than 65.

The proposal sponsored by KMT Legislator Chen Chien-min (陳健民) is seen as a political ploy to block the reappointment of Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生), who will turn 71 in July.

The bill has the backing of KMT and PFP lawmakers. But the DPP and many legal specialists argued it would be unfair to set up an age limit because no other countries have such practice.

The proposed amendment has fueled speculation that Judicial Yuan Vice President Cheng Chung-mo (城仲模) wants Weng's job.

Chen yesterday called upon all parties to cooperate to push for judicial reforms and said he hoped the KMT will not obstruct the reform drive simply to be at odds with the DPP. He made the appeal during the party's Central Standing Committee meeting.

DPP officials said the party is pushing for the judicial reforms following the conclusions made in 1999 at the National Judicial Reform Conference called by the then KMT administration.

The officials urged the KMT not to change its views because of the change in the party's political fortunes.