The nomination of the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan will take practical experience and academic renown into consideration, Presidential Office spokesperson Alex Huang (黃重諺) said, adding that calls to consider the gender ratio of appointees to the Council of Grand Justices would also be taken under advisement.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is reportedly considering former grand justice Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) and Taiwan High Court Judge Tsai Chung-tun (蔡炯燉) for president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, respectively, following the withdrawal of Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission Chief Commissioner Hsieh Wen-ting (謝文定) and Judicial Yuan Secretary-General Lin Chin-fang (林錦芳).
Local media reports also said that the president might tap National Taiwan University law professors Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄), Huang Chao-yuan (黃昭元), Chan San-lin (詹森林) and human rights lawyer Huang Juei-min (黃瑞明) as grand justices.
The president is using a variety of methods to garner feedback on who should be appointed to the positions, including meeting with potential candidates, Alex Huang said.
Meanwhile, the Awakening Foundation on Friday said that the rumored candidates were not only mostly male, but many of them were also known for their conservative commentaries regarding gender equality.
The president should nominate women who are aware of gender issues, the foundation said, adding that such a move would serve to shake up the prominently conservative male upper echelons at the Judicial Yuan.
The foundation suggested that Tsai Ing-wen name former grand justice Hsu Yu-hsiu (許玉秀) as a candidate for either president or vice president of the Judicial Yuan, adding that such an appointment would not be unconstitutional, as the Constitution does not restrict reappointment to office.
In response, Alex Huang said the president would make the appointments in accordance with the Constitution, adding that while judicial reforms should be transparent to the public, it should also be implemented by individuals familiar with judicial proceedings.
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