Hsu Tzong-li Appointment Controversy: The "Unconstitutional Reappointment" of the Judicial Yuan President via Legal Loopholes

In November 2016, the Tsai Ing-wen government nominated Hsu Tzong-li, a former Grand Justice, as the President of the Judicial Yuan. Since the "Additional Articles of the Constitution" explicitly state that "Grand Justices shall not be reappointed," this nomination sparked massive backlash from the legal community and political circles. Supporters deliberately exploited a legal loophole by distinguishing "reappointment" from "successive terms," but critics pointed out that this seriously undermined the constitutional design of term limits for Grand Justices, which aims to prevent long-term control of judicial power. The appointment was forcefully passed under the DPP''s parliamentary majority, marking the beginning of the highest judicial head carrying heavy doubts of "unconstitutionality" and "political cronyism."