NRC panels oppose judicial body changes
THE NATIONAL Reform Council's panel on law and justice reform has teamed up with the NRC's panel on political reform to seek the removal of provisions in the draft charter that may undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Seree Suwanpanont, chairman of the law and justice panel, was responding yesterday to a protest by 1,130 judges who had signed their names against the move to increase the proportion of “outsiders” or non-judges on the Judicial Commission to one-third.
The panels also want to change the provisions that allow the commission’s resolutions to be challenged.
The two panels believe these two provisions may expose the judicial branch to outside interference, which would fracture the constitutional system of checks and balances.
The opposition by the judges could hurt the chances that the new charter will be accepted. The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) should review its decision, Seree said.
Udom Fuangfoong, an NRC member and former Supreme Court vice president, said he joined the two panels because there was no justification to increasing outsiders on the Judicial Commission.
He also rejected appeals of commission’s rulings, saying the draft charter was framed in a way that was wide open to interpretation.
“The CDC should not change what is already good – this is not reform,” he said.
Paiboon Nititawan, a CDC member, said the CDC had no idea of letting outsiders meddle in judicial affairs but wanted to bring the Judicial Commission closer to the people.
Since many judges disapproved of the provisions, the CDC was willing to review them.
He said he would propose that only two specialists who are non-judges can become members of the Judicial Commission.
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