Hsu Tzong-li

In this Chinese name, the family name is Hsu.

Hsu Tzong-li (Chinese: 許宗力; pinyin: Xǔ Zōnglì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Khó͘ Chong-le̍k; born 10 February 1956) is a Taiwanese jurist who served as the Chief Justice (President of the Judicial Yuan) of Taiwan from 2016 to 2024.^[1]

The Honourable Chief Justice Hsu Tzong-li
許宗力
Official portrait, 2018
11th President of the Judicial Yuan
In office 1 November 2016 – 1 November 2024
Appointed by	Tsai Ing-wen
Vice President	Tsai Jeong-duen
Preceded by	Rai Hau-min
Succeeded by	Shieh Ming-yan (acting)
Associate Justice of the Judicial Yuan
In office 1 November 2016 – 1 November 2024
Appointed by	Tsai Ing-wen
In office 1 October 2003 – 30 September 2011
Appointed by	Chen Shui-bian
Personal details
Born	(1956-02-10) 10 February 1956 (age 69) Chiayi, Taiwan
Party	Independent
Education	National Taiwan University (LLB) University of Göttingen (PhD)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	許宗力
Hanyu Pinyin	Xǔ Zōnglì
Hokkien POJ	Khó͘ Chong-le̍k
Tâi-lô	Khóo Tsong-li̍k

Academic career

Hsu graduated from National Taiwan University with an LL.B. and completed doctoral studies in Germany, where he earned his Ph.D. (Dr.iur.) in law from the University of Göttingen in 1986. Later that year, he began teaching law at Fu Jen Catholic University and moved to NTU in 1987. He was elected dean of NTU's law school in 2002.^[2][3]

Legal career

He was a member of the Fair Trade Commission from 1995 to 1998 and led the Taiwan Law Society from 2001 to 2003.^[2][4]

Judicial Yuan

Hsu was named a member of the Judicial Yuan in 2003 and left the bench in 2011.^[5][6][7]

As president

The appointment of Hsu to be the President of Judicial Yuan from outgoing President Rai Hau-min.

Hsu was appointed the President of the Judicial Yuan on 25 October 2016 after his nomination was approved by legislators after a week of questioning. His selection was challenged with allegations of unconstitutionality, as Hsu had previously served on the Judicial Yuan.^[8][9] Article V of the Additional Articles of the Constitution governs judicial appointments, and reads, in part "Each grand justice of the Judicial Yuan shall serve a term of eight years, independent of the order of appointment to office, and shall not serve consecutive terms." The Tsai Ing-wen administration argued that Hsu was reappointed, and never served consecutive terms.^[10] The Alliance for Civic Oversight of Supreme Court Justice Nominees approved of Hsu's selection, as did the New Power Party.^[11][12] Subsequently, the Legislative Yuan voted 72-2 for him to assume the post and for Tsai Jeong-duen to be the Vice President.^[13] Hsu was inaugurated as the President of the Judicial Yuan on 1 November 2016 in a ceremony attended by Vice President Chen Chien-jen. Hsu appointed Lu Tai-lang (Chinese: 呂太郎) the secretary-general of the Judicial Yuan and Chou Chan-chun (Chinese: 周占春) as the head of the Judges Academy (zh).^[14]

Political stances

Hsu stated shortly before his confirmation as President of the Judicial Yuan in October 2016 that Cross-Strait relations should be handled on a special state-to-state basis, comparing them to relations between East and West Germany.^[15]