The Judicial Reform Three Laws Promotion Alliance Visits the Premier of the Executive Yuan

Following their visit last Thursday (December 4) to Legislative Yuan President Wang Chin-pyng to directly express their demands, the "Judicial Reform Three Laws Promotion Alliance"—which advocates for the completion of legislation including the Legal Aid Act, the Judges Act, and the Judicial Yuan Organization Act—paid a courtesy call on Premier Yu of the Executive Yuan this morning (the 9th) to urge the realization of these three judicial reform laws and convey earnest demands from civil society.

According to accounts shared by Alliance representatives after the meeting, Premier Yu of the Executive Yuan stated: The Executive Yuan strongly supports judicial reform. Regarding the "Legal Aid Act," although cross-caucus consultations in the Legislative Yuan reached a consensus yesterday (the 8th) to "contribute NT$500 million as the endowment fund for the Legal Aid Foundation and allocate NT$500 million annually as the Foundation's operational expenses," the Executive Yuan is willing to further coordinate with the Judicial Yuan to increase funding to at least NT$1 billion annually for use by the Legal Aid Foundation. Secondly, regarding the "Judges Act," the Judicial Yuan's version has currently been submitted to the Executive Yuan for joint deliberation. The Executive Yuan basically supports abolishing the distinction of official ranks and grades for judges, and agrees that before the Prosecutors Act is legislated, prosecutors shall mutatis mutandis apply the Judges Act. The Executive Yuan will swiftly coordinate internal opinions so that the official version of the Judges Act draft can be submitted to the Legislative Yuan as soon as possible. As for the "Judicial Yuan Organization Act," the resistance it faces likely stems primarily from the Legislative Yuan rather than the Executive Yuan; the Executive Yuan itself is "like a clay Buddha crossing a river," with many priority bills listed by the Executive Yuan still pending review in the Legislative Yuan.

Regarding Premier Yu's remarks, the Judicial Reform Three Laws Promotion Alliance expressed affirmation for the Premier's commitment to allocate NT$1 billion annually to the Legal Aid Foundation. Furthermore, the Alliance believes that the future scope of operations for the Legal Aid Foundation should not be limited to criminal defense cases, but should extend to civil actions and administrative litigation; therefore, NT$1 billion per year may still be insufficient. Additionally, regarding the "Judges Act" and the "Judicial Yuan Organization Act," while the Alliance believes the Executive Yuan should not be overly blamed, given that the Executive Yuan holds the most government resources, whether it wishes to fully promote judicial reform is merely a matter of having "reform determination" and "political wisdom." The Alliance still expects the government to step up its efforts in advancing the three judicial reform laws!

Based on the Alliance's experience of visiting Legislative Yuan President Wang and Executive Yuan Premier Yu for a second time, it is evident that among the three judicial reform laws, the "Judicial Yuan Organization Act" currently faces the greatest resistance to passage. Therefore, the "Judicial Reform Three Laws Promotion Alliance" has decided to visit various party caucuses and party chairpersons in the Legislative Yuan in the near future to demand that all parties express their support for the passage of the "Judicial Yuan Organization Act," and to ensure that the progress of judicial reform is not delayed by elections or political factors.

Attendees

Chu Hai-yuan, Professor　Alliance Convener
Su Su-o, Judge　Alliance Deputy Convener
Chien Hsi-chieh, Convener　Alliance Deputy Convener
Huang Hsu-tian, Attorney　Secretary-General, Taiwan Bar Association
Lin Chung-hung, Attorney　Secretary-General, Taipei Bar Association
Ch'en Jui-jen, Prosecutor　Spokesperson, Association for Prosecutorial Reform
Chang Chu-fang, Attorney　Vice Chairperson, Awakening Foundation
Cheng Wen-lung, Attorney　Executive Member, Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Lu Tien-lin, Chairperson　Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions
Chung Kung-chao, Board Member　Board Member, Taiwan Labour Front
Lin Yung-sung, Attorney　Alliance CEO / Board Member, Judicial Reform Foundation
Lin Ching-ping, Attorney　Alliance Deputy CEO / CEO, Judicial Reform Foundation