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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Reform group defends ‘Sunshine Justice’ site
The search page for judges’ files on the “Sunshine Justice” Web site run by the Judicial Reform Foundation is pictured on Wednesday last week. Photo: Chang Wen-chuan, Taipei Times
UNHAPPY OFFICIALDOM: Judicial Reform Foundation members said the site, which lists the details of almost 3,000 judges and prosecutors, ‘lifts the veil of secrecy’
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
Judicial Reform Foundation officials yesterday defended the group’s new “Sunshine Justice” （司法陽光網） Web site, vowing not to give in to pressure from the Ministry of Justice, which wants the site taken down.
Foundation chairman Lin Yung-sung （林永頌） said the materials published on the Web site, which was launched on Tuesday last week, are made available as an open information platform to monitor and evaluate judges and prosecutors.
The Web site （http://sunshine.jrf.org.tw） presents basic profiles and a case record database of nearly 3,000 judges and prosecutors, including their name, gender, law school, training period, case history, mentions in the media, allegations of misconduct and discipline or recognition received.
Foundation officials said the site “lifts the veil of secrecy” and is similar to platforms in many other nations, adding that care was taken to guard the privacy of the individuals listed according to the Personal Information Protection Act （個人資料保護法）.
“Why cannot the public scrutinize the judicial officials who possess so much power and authority in our society,” Lin said.
The objections and criticism from ministry officials were “ludicrous and shameful,” he said.
He said the ministry needs to take a more businesslike approach, comparing it to a manufacturer with quality-control issues, which should take action to remedy its problems when buyers complain about defective products.
Foundation executives said that there have been repeated calls to set up a mechanism within the judiciary to evaluate judges and prosecutors, but each time the calls were met with strong opposition from the ministry and the Judicial Yuan.
“Instead, they launched a judiciary mechanism for internal evaluation and scrutiny, where the procedures and results are not open to the outside world,” Lin said. “We are trying to made the judiciary more transparent and open, and more responsive to the public.”
If ministry officials have different opinions about the Web site as a mechanism for public scrutiny of the judiciary, then this can be discussed and changes made, he said, “They should not just demand the site be taken offline.”
The foundation will not remove the site, and plans a second phase, in which lawyers and people in litigation can offer evaluations of judges and prosecutors, Lin said.
“There are still details to work out for the second phase. We have to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the evaluations on the conduct, performance and professionalism of judicial officials. The foundation will bear the burden of responsibility for this evaluation program,” he said.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
