Of the four nominees named by President Ma Ying-jeou to serve as grand justices in Taiwan’s constitutional court, one drew particular scrutiny. Lin Jiun-yi ruled in favor of Ma in an embezzlement case in April 2008, leading to suspicions his nomination was a reward. But Lin dismissed the talk. President Ma Ying-jeou shook hands one-by-one with the four nominees named to replace grand justices set to step down in September.President Ma Ying-jeouThe terms of the four grand justices end on Sept. 30. We therefore hope that the Legislature can complete confirmation proceedings in this session.The four nominees are Formosa Transnational Attorneys-at-Law associate Huang Horng-shya, Deputy Justice Minister Wu Chen-huan, NTU College of Law professor Tsai Ming-cheng and Shilin District Court President Lin Jiun-yi.Lin was the judge who found Ma not guilty of embezzling his special allowance fund when he was Taipei mayor, raising suspicions that the nomination was a reward of sorts. Lin did not agree.Lin Jiun-yiGrand Justice NomineeI did indeed handle the special allowance case when I was with the Supreme Court. Our Supreme Court decisions are collegial, made by a lead judge and four others, and we decided this case together. I think the handling of this case or any ruling made by a judge is subject to public review. In 2006, while still mayor of Taipei, Ma was indicted on embezzlement charges for allegedly using fake receipts to claim funds from his special allowance. In the end, Ma was exonerated but the city’s secretary-general Yu Wen was found guilty and sentenced to a year in jail.
