Regarding the ruling camp's strong criticism of Supreme Court Justice Cho Hee-dae's written nomination of Supreme Court justice candidates, Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok remarked today (the 20th), "What criminal defendant dares to choose the Supreme Court justices who will try them?"

Speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly today, Lee stated, "President Lee Jae-myung is a defendant undergoing five criminal trials: for violations of the Public Official Election Act, subornation of perjury, the Daejang-dong development scandal, the illicit use of corporate credit cards, and illegal remittances to North Korea."

Noting that President Lee's trials will resume after his term ends, Lee explained, "The Public Official Election Act case was remanded by the Supreme Court with a guilty intent, meaning that once the trial reopens, its ultimate destination is the Supreme Court. The number of Supreme Court justices on that bench will increase from 14 to 26, and the person who fills those vacancies is President Lee. The people he appoints now will handle the trials of the person who appointed them after the president steps down."

He added, "The public elected a president, but they did not elect a verdict. The line that separates what can and cannot be obtained through an election—that is the rule of law," and continued, "There is a principle of trial older than the convention the ruling party speaks of: one does not tamper with the trial they are to face."

Urging President Lee, Representative Lee said, "At the very least, let us withdraw the talk of a defendant picking the Supreme Court justices to try their own case," and warned, "A president attempting to influence their own trial is piling up logs that they cannot handle. Have some shame."

(Photo: Yonhap News)