Taking Responsibility Before History: Protesting President Ma's Improper Grand Justices Nominations – Civil Society Refuses Evaluation Press Conference

Since 2003, whenever the President nominates Grand Justices in accordance with the Constitution, the "Civil Alliance for Monitoring Grand Justice Nominees of the Judicial Yuan" is immediately mobilized. Civil society takes the selection process of Grand Justices with utmost seriousness for one sole purpose: to hope that candidates not only possess the most visible qualifications of academic and professional backgrounds, but also harbor exceptional constitutional human rights ideals, care for disadvantaged groups and the development of the rule of law, and are capable of offering legal opinions that can convince the public during times of crisis and turbulence. This is precisely the "infrastructure" that Taiwan, as a nascent democracy, should strive with all its might to foster.

Regrettably, upon learning of the President's list of Grand Justice nominees this time and witnessing the turmoil of the past ten-odd days, we are utterly disappointed. Why is a lawyer-turned-president so indifferent to the importance of the office of Grand Justice? Among the nominees, there are judges who have rendered highly controversial social judgments, individuals who have held foreign nationalities, and those with foreign permanent residency. Although the President publicly apologized and hastily replaced a nominee, this only raised concerns about whether the replacement nominees were "second-string players." Even more seriously, the President brazenly summoned the President of the Judicial Yuan to attend a press conference and issue an apology, appearing as the master of the Judicial Yuan President, which completely contradicts his constant rhetoric of respecting the judiciary and non-interference in judicial affairs.

Perhaps there will be further developments and information regarding this round of Grand Justice nominations, but we have lost our patience and no longer harbor any expectations regarding President Ma's nomination of candidates who clearly lack basic qualifications, along with his attempt to ram them through using the legislative majority. Based on this, the Alliance solemnly expresses the following two points:

1. The Alliance refuses to evaluate the Grand Justice nominees as an expression of protest, until President Ma re-nominates Grand Justices.
2. We urge the four "current" Grand Justice nominees to decline the President's nomination, thereby preserving a shred of integrity and restoring the dignity that the office of Grand Justice rightfully deserves.

In addition, the Alliance provides a personal data questionnaire for Grand Justice nominees for the reference of the President and all caucus groups in the Legislative Yuan. Modeled after the questionnaire required by the U.S. Congress when reviewing Grand Justice nominees and slightly revised to fit Taiwan's circumstances, we hope that this questionnaire (attached below) will adequately disclose information related to the nominees, thereby enhancing the transparency of nominees and strengthening our ability to discern their suitability.

Appendix

Civil Version of the Personal Data Questionnaire for Judicial Yuan Grand Justice Nominees

Members of the Civil Alliance for Monitoring Grand Justice Nominees of the Judicial Yuan

Taiwan Association for Human Rights (Society of Wilderness / Cheng She)
Taiwan Law Society
Taipei Bar Association
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Taiwan Democratic Front
Judicial Reform Foundation
Taiwan Bar Association