TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's judicial community erupted in outrage on Friday (June 13) after the Judges Association of Republic of China (中華民國法官協會), the island's primary professional organization for judges, issued a scathing rebuke of Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) for suggesting the ruling Democratic Progressive Party controls the courts. The association condemned the mayor's statements as a sweeping insult to the integrity of judges across Taiwan, escalating tensions between the judiciary and local government officials.
The controversy stems from comments Mayor Lu made Wednesday during a press briefing about municipalities challenging the Executive Yuan's (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, decision to reduce general subsidies to local governments. Lu, a member of the opposition Kuomintang party, expressed deep pessimism about these legal challenges, bluntly asserting that "the ruling party runs the courts, and the Grand Justice listens to the ruling party." In their pointed response, the Judges Association defended the judiciary's independence, stressing that judges render decisions based solely on legal principles and evidence, not political considerations or party directives.
In their strongly-worded statement, the judicial group emphasized that Taiwan's courts maintain their independence regardless of electoral outcomes or power transitions between political parties. The association characterized suggestions of politically-motivated rulings as fundamental attacks on judicial integrity and the constitutional separation of powers. They further admonished political figures who make such accusations, arguing that undermining public trust in the judicial system encourages disrespect for court decisions and legal processes, ultimately weakening the rule of law to the detriment of Taiwan's 23 million citizens.
The association also used the opportunity to highlight systemic challenges facing Taiwan's judicial system, particularly the chronic overwork of judges and court personnel. Their statement pointed to a growing disparity between judicial workloads and compensation that threatens the sustainability of the courts. The organization concluded with an appeal to political leaders across party lines to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric against the judiciary and instead support Taiwan's ongoing judicial reform efforts with patience and constructive engagement. "Trust that judicial reform can progress steadily," the statement urged, as the association sought to redirect political energy toward addressing structural problems rather than undermining institutional credibility. ◼