Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s father dies, delaying response on renominating Supreme Court candidate

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is expected to delay his response to the presidential office’s demand that he resubmit a nominee for a Supreme Court justice post after his father died at 93.

Cho was reportedly in Pohang on May 31, attending to the funeral of his father, Cho Bu-hwan, who died the previous day. A Supreme Court official said Cho would not receive visitors offering condolences from outside.

The death comes amid a dispute over the replacement for former Justice Noh Tae-ak. Without reaching an agreement with the presidential office, Cho submitted Daegu District Court presiding judge Son Bong-ki to President Lee Jae-myung in writing. The move has created friction with the ruling camp.

The presidential office asked Cho on May 28 to resubmit a candidate. Cho had said he would give his position during the week, but that timetable now appears likely to change. Parliament’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee had also asked him to attend an urgent hearing on the written nomination and related issues. Cho submitted a written explanation for his absence, saying, “Having the National Assembly compel the chief justice to testify about exercising his constitutionally independent authority to recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate runs counter to the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.”

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Having the National Assembly compel the chief justice to testify about exercising his constitutionally independent authority to recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate runs counter to the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.