Chang Wen-chen

Chang graduated from National Taiwan University with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) and then a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree.^[2] She then earned a second Master of Laws and then a Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) in 2001 from Yale Law School, where her doctoral supervisor was law professor Bruce Ackerman.^[1] Her doctoral dissertation was titled, "Transition to Democracy, Constitutionalism and Judicial Activism: Taiwan in Comparative Constitutional Perspective".^[3]

As a legal academic, she has commented on China's Anti-Secession Law,^[4] the Legislative Yuan's inaction causing vacancies in the presidency and vice presidency of the Control Yuan between 2005 and 2008,^[5] limitations on the Control Yuan's powers,^[6] and supported amendments to laws regarding protests and demonstrations.^[7] Chen was one of 36 co-signers of a statement opining that Ma Ying-jeou had overstepped his presidential authority during the September 2013 power struggle.^[8]

Chang is a founding member of the Asian Human Rights Court Simulation, established in 2018,^[9] and in 2019, was named its vice president.^[10] In 2022 and 2024, Chang served on the selection committee for the Tang Prize in Rule of Law.^[11] She has also chaired the Restoration of Victim's Rights Infringed by Illegal Acts of the State During the Period of Authoritarian Rule Foundation.^[12]

In 2024, Chang testified as an expert witness to the Constitutional Court in cases that led to protests.^[13] In August of that year, William Lai nominated Chang to serve as president of the Judicial Yuan.^[14][15] However, legislative confirmation hearings for seven Judicial Yuan positions, including replacements for president Hsu Tzong-li and vice president Tsai Jeong-duen were delayed, necessitating the appointment of Shieh Ming-yuan as acting president of the Judicial Yuan.^[16] Hearings eventually began on 2 December, but left the Judicial Yuan with the lowest number of justices since the introduction of judicial interpretation in 1947.^[17] During legislative questioning on 10 December, Chang observed that the Judicial Yuan had imposed stricter conditions on capital punishment earlier that year, but maintained that the death penalty was constitutional.^[18] The Legislative Yuan voted to reject Chang's nomination, and that of six others to the Judicial Yuan, on 24 December 2024.^[19] Days before deciding on Lai's nominees, legislators had voted to require the Judicial Yuan have ten active judges before hearing a case.^[20]