1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform
1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform
In July 1999, Taiwan held its first-ever government-led National Conference on Judicial Reform with extensive grassroots participation. Spanning three days, the conference reached 32 conclusions, marking a major milestone in bottom-up judicial reform. This page compiles related articles and evaluation reports from before and after the conference for public reference.
Conference Background
Prior to 1999, public grievances against the judiciary ran deep, and public calls for reform were surging.
Since its establishment in 1995, the Judicial Reform Foundation has consistently tracked individual cases, advocated for legislation, and broadly mobilized public attention on judicial reform. By the late 1990s, public dissatisfaction with a stagnant and sluggish judiciary had reached its limit, prompting an unprecedented number of legal professionals to take to the streets and demand prompt reform.
Facing this surging grassroots momentum for reform, then-President Li Teng-hui (李登輝) responded to the public will by committing to institutional judicial reform. In July 1999, the National Conference on Judicial Reform was officially convened. Over the course of three days, representatives from judicial practice, academia, and civil society gathered to reach 32 concrete conclusions, followed by specific implementation measures and timelines proposed by the Judicial Yuan.
This conference was an unprecedented event in Taiwan's judicial reform history, yielding fruitful outcomes. However, a review report three years later showed that the government's overall implementation score reached only 40.6; a review a decade later bluntly remarked, "A decade of judicial reform is like a dream; before waking, one is already worn thin." This history serves as both the starting point of reform and a testament to persistent grassroots pressure.
Pre-Conference Phase: Civil Society Advocacy and Preparation
In 1997, civil society groups actively advocated for the convening of the National Conference on Judicial Reform and voiced expectations and oversight regarding the preparatory process.
"Mobilizing the Public to Reform the Judiciary" Voice Series
In conjunction with the 1999 Judicial Reform Conference, the Judicial Reform Foundation invited figures from all walks of life to write articles on judicial issues, presenting diverse voices for reform.
Conference Conclusions and Agenda Records
The 1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform reached a total of 32 conclusions, which were subsequently compiled and published by the Judicial Yuan in an agenda and conclusion handbook.
1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform Agendas and Conclusions
Compiled and published by the Judicial Yuan, this volume comprehensively compiles all discussion agendas and the 32 conclusions reached at the National Conference on Judicial Reform held in July 1999. It serves as essential primary literature for studying the history of Taiwan's judicial reform.
Author: Compiled by the Judicial Yuan ｜ Publication Date: 2016-03-15
Subsequent Review and Performance Assessment
Following the conference, the Judicial Reform Foundation continuously tracked the government's implementation progress and issued evaluation reports on its third and tenth anniversaries.
The third-anniversary evaluation report showed that the government's overall implementation score reached an average of only 40.6 out of 100. Group 1 ("Judicial Administration and Civil Litigation") scored 43.8, Group 2 ("Criminal Procedure System") scored 36.4, and Group 3 ("Personnel Reform for Judges and Prosecutors") scored 40. The report noted that execution progress on core issues concerning the success or failure of judicial reform showed no significant improvement compared to the previous year.
Read Evaluation ReportA decade later, the Judicial Reform Foundation reviewed the 1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform as the cover story of Issue 72 of Judicial Reform Magazine. It invited conference participants to share their firsthand perspectives, reviewing the successes, failures, and unfulfilled aspects of the decade of reform from the differing angles of academia and civil reformers.
Read (Digital Archives System)Follow-Up Actions: Ongoing Oversight and Advocacy
Following the 1999 conference, the Judicial Reform Foundation continued to monitor the progress of judicial reform and spoke out at critical moments.
Reform Has Never Stopped
The 1999 National Conference on Judicial Reform was a major milestone for civil society in promoting judicial reform. In 2017, the National Customs on Judicial Reform once again mobilized civil society strength. The Judicial Reform Foundation continues to track and oversee developments to ensure that reform commitments do not remain empty talk.
2017 Judicial Reform Resolutions: Oversight and Implementation 2016 National Judicial Reform Movement
2016
1999 National Judicial Reform Conference Agenda and Conclusions
1999 National Judicial Reform Conference Agenda and Conclusions
1999
What is Mandatory Defense During Investigation
According to Article 31, Paragraph 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for offenses carrying a minimum sentence of…
1999
Women and the Judiciary—Mobilizing the Public for Judicial Reform (Voice of the People Series)
In Taiwan, traditionally dominated by authoritarianism and male-centric perspectives, erroneous gender stereotypes and…
1999
Holding Fast to the Core Principles of "Human Rights" and "The People": Three Expectations for the National Conference on Judicial Reform
Although establishing a judiciary for all that protects fundamental human rights is a fundamental approach to…
1999
Regardless of Procedure, Justice Must Prevail—Please Promptly Establish a Legal Aid System
As courts are meant to serve all citizens while judges' time remains eternally limited, legal representation by…
1999
How to Solve Cases Without Torture?
In judicial reform discussions, besides judges, prosecutors, and lawyers who receive the most attention, the starting…
1999
The Struggle of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Judicial Dilemmas—Mobilizing the Public to Reform the Judiciary ("Voices of the People" Series)
Let us first examine the physical infrastructure: how many courts nationwide are equipped with facilities that allow…
1999
Examining the Problem of Judicial Secondary Victimization in Sexual Assault Cases—Mobilizing the Public to Reform the Judiciary ("Public Voice Series")
While many women's groups celebrated the legislative amendments on this issue, the author, when acting as counsel for…
1999
What If He Were Wu Tse-yuan!—Public Mobilization for Judicial Reform "Voice of the People Series"
Recently, the Non-Partisan Solidarity Caucus in the Legislative Yuan nominated Legislator Wu Tse-yuan to attend the…
1999
Drinking Culture and Judicial Reform—Mobilizing the Public for Judicial Reform (Voice of the People Series)
Lately, as someone who cares about judicial reform, my feelings have been quite conflicted. On one hand, I am thrilled…
1999
Lawyers Must Not Be Absent from Reform—National Mobilization for Judicial Reform "Voices for All Series"
In recent years, judicial trial procedures have been delayed, the quality of judgments has been uneven, and rumors of…
1999
Pao-Ch'ing-T'ien or Judges? — Mobilizing the Public for Judicial Reform: "Public Voices Series"
Is justice equivalent to the truth? Is finding the absolute truth the same as finding justice? Although "discovering…