Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on Tuesday rejected pressure to reopen the stalled appointment of a Supreme Court justice, telling lawmakers that the Blue House had failed to provide sufficient reasons or constitutional grounds for requesting a new nominee. Cho refused to take a witness oath at a National Assembly audit, citing separation of powers and judicial independence, but remained after lawmakers denied him permission to leave and answered questions for much of the morning. He later argued that neither the president nor the National Assembly could interfere with the chief justice’s recommendation power under Article 104 of the