Former Judge Penalized One Year's Salary for Practicing Law While in Office

(CNA, Taipei, June 22) Former Tainan District Court Judge Shih Chih-yuan provided legal opinions and drafted legal documents for other lawyers, referred cases, and received remuneration during his tenure, engaging in the practice of law. The Disciplinary Court's Duty Tribunal today ruled to penalize Shih with one year's worth of his final monthly salary. The ruling is appealable.

The ruling stated that Shih Chih-yuan (who has since become a lawyer) engaged in misconduct by practicing law during his tenure from late November 2022 to late February 2023. For 10 civil, criminal, and administrative litigation cases, he provided legal opinions and drafted legal documents for a lawyer surnamed Liang, referred cases to lawyer Liang for handling and received remuneration, or provided legal consultations to parties and collected attorney fees in advance (or after leaving office). These actions were transferred to the Disciplinary Court's Duty Tribunal by the Judicial Yuan for review.

After review, the Duty Tribunal found Shih Chih-yuan's misconduct to be serious. It not only diminished the integrity and uprightness expected of a judge but also encroached upon the independent judgment of other judges and the image of judicial independence and fairness. This would lead to a depreciation of the public's overall evaluation of the judiciary. The tribunal ruled to impose a penalty equivalent to one year's worth of his final monthly salary. The case is appealable. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150622

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