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FEATURE: Brush with the law changes a life

Kuo Ming-hsien, right and Judge Lin Mei-ching pose for a photo on Aug. 15 in Pingtung City. Kuo once appeared before Lin as a defendent and is now studying law at Fu Jen Catholic University in the hopes of becoming a judge like her. PHOTO: HUANG LIANG-CHIEH, TAIPEI TIMES

Seventeen-year-old Kuo Ming-hsien (郭明仙) shook in his shoes and his voiced trembled when he answered a judge’s questions at a district juvenile court in Pingtung City three years ago.

Kuo was accused by a family of four of assault after he defended his mother when they tried to evict her from a parking lot she rented and operated in Donggang Port (東港) to support their family after his father, a fisherman, died in a typhoon.

Little did Kuo or the judge know at the time that the trial would lead Kuo to pursue a legal career. Kuo, who is studying law at a university, finished his summer job as a clerk in the same court last week.

The case has been spotlighted by the media as a reminder of how a seemingly insignificant act of kindness could change someone’s life.

When Kuo was on trial, he told the judge that he came to his mother’s rescue when he found four people shouting abuse at her and threatening her with clubs as they tried to force her out of the parking lot business.

“I believe that after my graduation, I will be able to help people who are less fortunate than I am.” — Kuo Ming-hsien, Fu Jen Catholic University law student

Kuo spread his arms and stood in front of his mother as they were pushed back to the edge of the pier, Kuo said. During the resulting scuffle, Kuo said the attackers had shouted to “get out of the parking lot” and that “nobody will be able to run the parking lot without our permission.”

Both he and his mother were beaten, while Kuo traded punches with his attackers.

Kuo’s attackers, who seemed to have influence in the town because they were relatives of an elected official in Donggang, sued Kuo for physical assault.

Kuo was bewildered and fearful after receiving a subpoena from the juvenile court. He found it unbelievable that he would face charges after he had been beaten, receiving a light concussion that required emergency treatment at a hospital.

Kuo thought life was unfair. Bitter and sad, his grades at Kaohsiung Senior High School slumped. He also struggled with attention deficit disorder.

He felt there would be no justice for a poor family like his.

But several months later, after he was acquitted, Judge Lin Mei-ching (林美靜) approached him and told him: “You’d better study hard.”

The acquittal and Lin’s remark changed Kuo’s life. He resolved to do well in school so he could go to law school and become a judge like Lin.

He only applied to universities that had law departments when filling out his college entrance application form. He entered Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei last fall.

The Pingtung District Court contacted Kuo at the beginning of the summer and said that there was an opening for an assistant clerk and asked if he would be interested in working there for two months over the summer for NT$20,000 per month.

Thrilled, Kuo wasted no time in accepting the job.

When Kuo walked into the Pingtung District Court to begin work in early July, he was able to hold his head high, unlike the first time he had gone there to stand trial.

“I believe that after graduation, I will be able to help people who are less fortunate than I am,” Kuo said in brief interview at the court office on the last day of his summer job.

Judge Lin said she was surprised to learn that her ruling and simple words of advice could have had such a profound impact on a youngster.

She said she was be glad there would be another “defender of law and order” in the country.
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