- California Assembly OKs highest minimum wage in nation
- S. Korea unveils first graphic cigarette warnings
- US joins with South Korea, Japan in bid to deter North Korea
- LPGA golfer Chun In-gee finally back in action
- S. Korea won’t be top seed in final World Cup qualification round
- US men’s soccer misses 2nd straight Olympics
- US back on track in qualifying with 4-0 win over Guatemala
- High-intensity workout injuries spawn cottage industry
- CDC expands range of Zika mosquitoes into parts of Northeast
- Who knew? ‘The Walking Dead’ is helping families connect
Court to rule on constitutionality of acting president’s move to hold off judge appointment
The Constitutional Court will determine early next month whether acting President Choi Sang-mok’s decision to hold off the appointment of a justice to the court is constitutional, officials said.
The court consists of nine judges, but Choi’s move to put off the appointment of justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk late last month left eight judges on the bench. By the Constitution, consent from at least six judges is required for an impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol to be upheld.
The court is scheduled to make a decision on Feb. 3, following a petition filed over Choi’s decision.
On Dec. 31, Choi appointed two other justices to the court but withheld Ma’s appointment, citing a lack of consensus between the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP). Ma had been recommended by the DP.
The court is expected to determine whether an acting president has a duty to appoint judges and whether failing to do so violates a person’s right to a trial.
If the court decides that Choi’s action is unconstitutional, he will be required to make the appointment, filling the one vacant seat on the court.