Morley Shih
Taiwanese prosecutor and judge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shih Mao-lin (Chinese: 施茂林; pinyin: Shī Màolín; born 2 August 1950), also known by his English name Morley Shih, is a Taiwanese lawyer and judge. He attended National Taiwan University and began his legal career in 1976. Shih was appointed Minister of Justice in 2005 and served until 2008.
Shih Mao-lin | |
|---|---|
施茂林 | |
| |
| Minister of Justice of the Republic of China | |
| In office 1 February 2005 – 19 May 2008 | |
| Deputy | Lee Chin-yung |
| Preceded by | Chen Ding-nan |
| Succeeded by | Wang Ching-feng |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 August 1950 Chiayi, Taiwan |
| Education | National Taiwan University (LLB) |
Early life and education
Shih was born in Chiayi on 2 August 1950. He attended law school at National Taiwan University, where he graduated with an LL.B. in 1972 and studied law alongside Ma Ying-jeou.[1]
Legal career
Prosecutor and judge
Shih began his legal career at the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office in 1976. In 1982, he was named a judge of the Taichung District Court. After two years on the bench, Shih was appointed chief justice of the Taichung District Court.[1] Upon stepping down from the Taichung District Court, Shih returned to the Taichung District Prosecutors' Office, where he served as chief prosecutor. Shih received the most votes in a January 2000 poll run by the Prosecutors' Reform Association.[2] Subsequently, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan named Shih chief prosecutor in Kaohsiung.[3] The next year, Shih was tabbed to lead the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office.[4] He remained in the position until 2004,[5][6] when he was named Vice Minister of Justice under Chen in November.[7][8]
Minister of Justice
It was widely speculated that Shih would be Chen's successor.[9] Shih was then appointed in January 2005 by incoming premier Frank Hsieh,[10][11] and took office on 1 February 2005 with the Hsieh cabinet.[12] Shih retained his position after Su Tseng-chang and later Chang Chun-hsiung assumed the premiership.[13][14] Throughout his tenure, Shih launched multiple investigations into electoral fraud.[15][16][17] He also probed corruption,[18][19] insider trading,[20] and organized crime.[21] Additionally, Shih promoted initiatives against drug offenses.[22][23][24] Starting in 2006, Shih worked to implement a "conditional moratorium" on the death penalty, reducing executions of people on Taiwan's death row.[25][26][27]
Shortly after leaving his position as the Ministry of Justice in May 2008, Shih petitioned for retirement as a prosecutor, which would permit him to collect a higher pension. His successor Wang Ching-feng rejected the appeal.[28] Later that year, Shih was charged with fraud in relation to his use of special allowance funds.[29][30] In 2011, charges against Shih were dropped after the use of special allowance funds was officially decriminalized.[31][32]