What the JRF Taught Me About "Legal Values"—2018 Summer Intern Reflection

During my brief two-month internship at the JRF, going from initial shyness to chatting and laughing together now, I met so many people and encountered so many cases. From minor disputes between sisters-in-law or neighbors, to traffic accidents, drug trafficking, and more... In the process of interning, for the first time, I independently reviewed an entire case file to analyze the facts, apply the legal provisions, and communicate with the parties involved. Every single step was a profound learning experience.

The Su Ping-k'un case was the first time I sat in the public gallery to hear a judge's verdict. The courtroom was not as solemn and dignified as I had imagined, but instead surrounded by crowds of reporters with flashing lights. Yet, while waiting, I could still clearly hear my own heartbeat. The judge's verdict concerned the party's reputation and future life, but to me, it represented the progress of the judiciary and the hope of the people. I am grateful that the judge did not let us down. When the verdict was read, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside me. A person's golden years were worn away by the judiciary as police sought to solve cases and prosecutors took shortcuts. Even if innocence is restored three decades later, what meaning does it hold? Lost youth and bygone days flow away like water and never return. Yet, I remain grateful, thanking him for using his lifetime to illuminate the path forward for judicial reform.

During a press conference, JRF CEO Yü-fan said: "We must deeply realize that the judiciary makes mistakes and the system is imperfect. Those holding power must be more humble in admitting their mistakes, confronting and changing them, so that judicial reform may one day succeed." At that instant, my heart surged. Relatively speaking, our country's judicial procedures are insufficiently rigorous. They not only excessively rely on defendants' confessions and witness testimonies, but also resort to unscrupulous means to obtain evidence, leading to endless miscarriages of justice. However, the judicial reform we always emphasize remains merely at the level of material and institutional aspects. The most crucial spiritual and ideological aspects are what prosecutors and judges holding power are unwilling to change. Much of this involves the major legal interests of parties' lives and liberties. Even while knowing it is a bad practice, no one is willing to break such unwritten rules. I believe this is something we should all strive and reflect upon in our next steps. No matter where we are, we should learn to accept our own imperfections, face our mistakes, and do our utmost to make amends rather than compounding errors.

The name Chiou Ho-shun is unfamiliar to many, but everyone must be very familiar with the Lu Cheng case! Perhaps many people would question us: Why are you willing to speak up for them? Why are you so certain they are wrongful convictions? Why don't you think more about the victims? Faced with the overwhelming wave of public skepticism, I want to say... I am a law student, a JRF intern, and a member of this society! I can tell everyone with certainty: I do not know whether they were wrongfully accused or if they are truly the perpetrators. However, the reason I am willing to spend time and effort investing in these judicial issues is because the evidence used by judges to convict them is too weak and leaves too many doubts. Therefore, by participating in a civil society organization and contributing my meager strength, I hope everyone can have the opportunity to a fair trial, rather than simply becoming judicial scapegoats sacrificed to appease the public's mind.

When choosing among values, I unhesitatingly chose to uphold the "presumption of innocence." Because life, physical integrity, and liberty... how precious they are—how can a conviction be directly handed down when even a single doubt remains? "It is better to acquit the guilty than to wrongfully execute the innocent!" I believe this is the most core value I profoundly realized during my two months of interning at the JRF.