Vietnam’s National Assembly appoints new chief justice

After being elected by the National Assembly, Tri took the oath of office.

Le Minh Tri (C) takes the oath of office as Vietnam’s new chief justice of the Supreme People’s Court. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Phong

He succeeds Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh, who was approved by the National Assembly on the same day for appointment as deputy prime minister for the 2021-2026 term.

Tri, 64, hails from Ho Chi Minh City and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law. He is a member of the 12th and 13th Central Party Committee and a delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly.

He previously served as Deputy Chief of Security Staff at the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department and as Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (now the Ministry of Public Security). While holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in security, he was seconded as secretary to the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and later served as Deputy Chief of the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council and People’s Committee.

He subsequently held positions as Deputy Party Secretary and People’s Committee Chairman of HCMC’s District 1 , Chairman of District 1 People’s Committee, and Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, before becoming Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission. From April 2016, he served as the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

According to the Law on People’s Courts, the chief justice of the Supreme People’s Court is elected, dismissed, or removed by the National Assembly based on the recommendation of the president. The term of the chief justice corresponds with the term of the National Assembly.

The chief justice of the Supreme People’s Court is responsible for organizing the work of the court, ensuring that judges and jurors adjudicate independently and strictly in accordance with the law. The chief justice presides over meetings of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People’s Court and presents opinions to the president regarding requests for clemency in death penalty cases.

The Supreme People’s Court currently has five deputy chief justices: Nguyen Tri Tue, Nguyen Van Du, Duong Van Thang (Chief Justice of the Central Military Court), Nguyen Van Tien, and Pham Quoc Hung.