Hong Kong judge who committed serial plagiarism to take early retirement at chief justice’s request

Hong Kong High Court Judge Wilson Chan is set to retire early this week at the request of Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, following multiple instances of plagiarism in his judicial rulings. The judiciary confirmed Chan's early retirement would take effect on Friday.

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judicial copying strikes at the very core of the fundamental requirement for judges to adjudicate cases independently.

Chan, 64, was recently given a serious reprimand for copying large portions of legal arguments in a 2024 company shares dispute. The Court of Appeal found that 95 percent of his judgment in that case was plagiarized. This marks at least the third known instance of judicial copying, with two earlier cases in 2023 also involving similar misconduct.

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A judge must exercise an independent judicial mind in carefully considering and resolving the issues raised and in determining the disputes before the court.

Chief Justice Cheung emphasized that judicial copying fundamentally compromises the requirement for judges to adjudicate cases independently. He noted that Chan's actions have resulted in numerous appeals and orders for retrials, burdening the court's resources and eroding public trust in the judicial system. Cheung warned all judges against such practices and announced plans to strengthen judgment writing training.

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The exercise of independent judicial judgment, which lies at the heart of the adjudicative process, is principally reflected in the reasons and judgments delivered by the judge.