Noh Kyung-pil, head of the National Court Administration, said on the 25th that Chief Justice Jo Hee-de "deserves to be respected," after figures in the ruling camp referred to him as "Mr. Jo Hee-de" rather than by his title.
Noh made the remark during comprehensive policy questioning at the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, responding to People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Yong-keun. Asked first whether the head of the judiciary should be called "Chief Justice Jo Hee-de" or "Mr. Jo Hee-de," Noh said it "does not seem appropriate for me to answer."
But when Yoon pressed further, asking whether it was too much to attach the title of chief justice when addressing the head of the judiciary, Noh said, "I think there is a need to respect the chief justice."
The dispute over the title began when Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, publicly criticized the chief justice on the 19th following a controversy over a written nomination of Supreme Court justice candidates, calling him "Mr. Jo Hee-de, the worst chief justice since liberation." On the written nomination, Yoon asked whether it was reasonable for the party leader and lawmakers to collectively threaten impeachment on the grounds that prior approval had not been obtained from the president. Noh replied, "There is the spirit of the constitution, but the practice of respecting the president's appointment authority also needs to be respected."
Democratic Party lawmaker Cho In-chul, by contrast, criticized the chief justice's written nomination of Supreme Court justices, saying, "In plain terms, it means forcing it down our throats. It was sent unilaterally when no agreement had been reached." He added, "The harm will fall on the people, who will be unable to receive speedy trials." Asked why media reports said no prior consultation had taken place, Noh said, "We consulted continuously, but ultimately did not reach an agreement."
When Cho asked whether the court was willing to withdraw the official document even now and renegotiate from square one, Noh said, "Whether to proceed with the nomination is ultimately a matter for the chief justice to decide."
