Senior Supreme Court justice urges restraint among junior judges

SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- The head of the Supreme Court Administration Office
urged junior judges Monday to refrain from taking collective action against an
embattled Supreme Court justice who allegedly attempted to intervene in trials of
anti-government activists.

Supreme Court justice Shin Young-chul was referred to the top court's ethics
committee for sending a series of e-mails last year to junior judges pushing for
speedy trials of activists indicted for illegal protests against U.S. beef
imports. Shin was serving as chief of the Seoul District Court when he sent the
messages.
The ethics panel concluded last week that Shin's e-mails and other acts
constituted "misleading and inappropriate" behavior. Chief Justice Lee Yong-hoon
issued a warning to Shin but refused to ask him to resign.
"I believe that every judge will behave rationally and reasonably, keeping
yourself aloof from recent events," said Kim Yong-dam, head of the Supreme Court
Administration Office, in a message posted on the court's Web site. The comments
appeared after junior judges protested the decision not to recommend disciplinary
actions against Shin.
Kim added that the court is determined to step up efforts to guarantee the
independence of judges in court proceedings but added that such improvements will
take time.
Several postings on the Web site denounced the ethics committee's ruling and
calling for collective action to demand Shin's resignation.
In addition, junior judges at local district courts have convened emergency
meetings to discuss the issue. Initiated by a group of justices at Seoul District
Court, 12 18 district court judges have decided to participate in the action.
brk@yna.co.kr
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