A proposal by opposition law-makers to disqualify people aged 65 and older from serving as grand justices sparked a heated debate yesterday.
The proposal, sponsored by KMT Legislator Chen Chien-min (陳健民), was seen as a political maneuver to block the reappointment of Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生), who will turn 71 in July.
The 15 grand justices, including the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, are nominated by the head of state, with the consent of the legislature. Their eight-year term will expire on Oct. 1.
According to Chen's planned legal revisions, new Judicial Yuan leaders must have served as grand justices for at least three years but must not be older than 65.
Defending the age limit, Chen said that no one over the age of 65 has been named as a grand justice since 1971.
"The age ceiling has become a tacit sort of constitutional precedent," he said yesterday, urging President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen Chien-min's bill has the backing of his KMT and PFP colleagues. The proposed legislation has fueled speculation that Judicial Yuan Vice President Cheng Chung-mo (城仲模) is trying to oust Weng so that he may take the helm of the judiciary himself.
Yang Jen-shou (
"What Taiwan needs is a judiciary leader with vision, wisdom and commitment to judicial reform," he said, adding that Weng has whole-heartedly devoted himself to overhauling the country's judicial system in recent years.
Yang said the Judicial Yuan would seek to discuss the matter with the legislature, adding his boss is not perturbed by charges that Cheng is trying to get rid of him.
Cheng, who was a grand justice from 1994 to 1998 and will not turn 65 until Oct. 30, denied that he did not get along with Weng.
DPP legislative whip Chen Chi-mai (
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Others say a personal vendetta prompted Chen Chien-min to push for the legal amendment. A former high court judge, the lawmaker reportedly sought unsuccessfully to work as Judicial Yuan secretary-general. He has denied any ulterior motives.
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