Thailand names its first female president of the Supreme Court
>>The Judicial Commission has endorsed the nomination of Methinee Chalothorn as the new Supreme Court president, making her the country’s first woman to hold the top post.
Sarawut Benjakul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary, said Ms Methinee, currently the Supreme Court vice-president, will succeed Salaiket Watanaphan, who retires in September.
He said Ms Methinee’s nomination was endorsed at the July 24 meeting in which the Judicial Commission approved appointments of several key posts including six vice-presidents of the Supreme Court as well as the senior judges.
Among the key posts endorsed are the appointment of Piyakul Boonperm, currently head of the Supreme Court’s Bankruptcy Litigation Department, as the President of the Court of Appeal; Nucharin Chanpraisri, currently chief justice
in the Supreme Court, as head of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions; and Lachit Chaianong, currently chief justice in the Supreme Court, as head of the Supreme Court’s Election Case Division.
The appointments will take effect on Oct 1.
The country’s 46th Supreme Court president, Ms Methinee is a law graduate from Thammasat University and has a master’s degree in justice administration also from Thammasat University.
She served as president of the Court of Appeal for Specialised Cases, and was a member of the Judicial Administration Commission and the Judicial Commission.
Her former positions include Surin’s provincial court judge, North Bangkok District Court judge, head of the Bankruptcy Division in the Appeals Court, and head of the Consumer Case Division in the Appeals Court.