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Published on April 5, 2008

The Supreme Court yesterday convened a full bench to name three judges to fill vacant seats at the Constitution Court, as per the provisions of the 2007 Constitution.

The three judges will have to resign from the high court within 15 days in order to pave the way for royal appointments to their new positions.

The three are Chat Chonlaworn, the chief justice for the Juvenile and Family Division of the Supreme Court, and two leading high-court judges, Nurak Mapraneet and Boonsong Kunbuppha.

Chat played a vital role as the secretary-general of the Judiciary Commission, which facilitated the judicial intervention into the botched April 2, 2005 general election, leading to the cancellation of the result.

Nurak ruled last May to disband the Thai Rak Thai Party and ban its 111 executives from the electoral process for five years.

The 108 high-court judges cast two round of ballots for the three nominations. In the first round, the shortlist of 19 candidates was reduced to six. In the second round, Chat received the most support with 91 votes, followed by Nurak with 86 and Boonsong with 65.

The high court's three nominations will be submitted for royal appointment via the Senate.

The upper chamber is expected to complete the vetting of four other nominees under the quotas set for political science and law professionals.

The Supreme Administrative Court is to nominate two judges to fill the nine vacant seats.

The Constitution Court judges will serve a nine-year term, which is non-renewable. The mandatory retirement age is 70.

Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled on Wednesday to hear the vision statements of four judicial nominees to fill vacant seats at the Constitution Court

It is expected to complete the vetting process for the four by April 18, under the quotas set for political science and law professionals.

The four are Justice permanent secretary Jaran Pakdeethanakul, Appeal Court senior judge Wasant Soipisut and two retired diplomats, Supoj Kaimook and Chalermphol Ekuru.

Senator Worawit Baru said the background checks on the four had uncovered no controversial issues and there was no "dirt" on their records.

KESINEE TAENGKHIO

THE NATION