Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:41:55.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Constructing the Identity of the Thai Judge: Virtue, Status, and Power

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2018

Kitpatchara SOMANAWAT
Kitpatchara SOMANAWAT*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A central aspect of Thai legal consciousness since the mid-twentieth century, widely shared among the general population, has been a perception that judges have an exalted status entitling them to make broad-ranging pronouncements about social and political issues as well as legal matters. Popular legal consciousness of the Thai judge has to a large extent been shared by the judges themselves, as well as by their families and followers. The power and authority of Thai judges go far beyond the limited formal role they are given in Thailand’s civil-law system. This article suggests that the exceptional status of the Thai judge derives from a process of identity construction, emphasizing four traits that set the ideal judge apart from ordinary people. The first is that a Thai judge must be a “khon di” (good person), with specific reference to the traditions of Thai Buddhism. The second is that a Thai judge must be polite, kind, and socially refined—a “phudi” (proper gentleman). The third characteristic of the ideal Thai judge is that he or she must be highly educated and knowledgeable about the law—a “phuru” (learned and wise person). The fourth trait is that a Thai judge must be a “phupakdi” (loyal servant of the king), not only loyal to the monarchy as an institution, but to the late King Rama IX as a person. When the identity of the Thai judge is constructed from these four constituent elements, the pronouncements of the judge acquire legitimacy, even when they range beyond the narrow letter of the law. The article explores this central aspect of Thai legal consciousness by analyzing the construction of judges’ identities through a distinctive set of historical documents—the cremation volumes (nangsue ngan sop) that are published and distributed at the funerals of noted public figures. These volumes contain a wealth of biographical information as well as related legal and historical material that shed light on the life and work of Thailand’s most prominent judges during the past 50 years.

Keywords

Thai judgelegal consciousnessidentitycultural politicscremation volumejudicialization of politics
Type
Legal Consciousness in Asia
Information
Asian Journal of Law and Society , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , May 2018 , pp. 91 - 110
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and KoGuan Law School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University; PhD Candidate in History, Chiang Mai University. This article was edited by David and Jaruwan Engel to whom I am grateful. I also thank Saichol Sattayanurak of Chiang Mai University, Kasian Tejapera of Thammasat University, and Lynette Chua for their comments. In addition, I wish to acknowledge the Centre for Asian Legal Studies, National University of Singapore, for providing me with partial funding and the opportunity to present an early draft of this article at the Asian Law & Society Association inaugural conference in Singapore in September 2016. Correspondence to Kitpatchara Somanawat, Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University, 239 Huay Keaw Rd, Suthep, Muang Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand. E-mail address:kitpatcharas@yahoo.com.

References

REFERENCES

Anusorn Montri Yodpanya [Memorial of Montri Yodpanya] (2011) (in Thai).Google Scholar
Anusorn nai ngan Phra Ratchatarn Ploeng Sop Tan Puying Chuanchean Hutasingh [Memorial to Lady Chuanchean Hutasingh] (2013) Mren Leang Na Plub Pra Isaliyaporn, Wat Thepsirin (in Thai).Google Scholar
Anusorn Neang Nai Karn tee song phra garuna prot Kraw Phrarachatan Pling Sop Sarttrajarn Sanya Dharmasakti [Cremation Volume for Royally Sponsored Cremation of Professor Sanya Dharmasakti] (2002) Bangkok: Wat Thepsirintrawads, Pom Prap Sattru Phai District (in Thai).Google Scholar
Anusorn Ngan Phra Ratchatan Pleung Sop Sartrajarn Yud Sanguthai [Memorial in Cremation Ceremony by Royal Support] (1980) Bangkok: Mren Na Prabpra Isaliyaporn Wat Thepsirintarawads.Google Scholar
Anusorn Nuang Nai Pithi Phra Rachatan Pleung Sop Nai Praman Chunseu Lem 2 [Memorial to the Cremation Ceremony by Royal Support of Praman Chunseu Book 2] (2007) Bangkok: Mren Leang Na Prubpra Isariyaporn (in Thai).Google Scholar
Anusorn Sakda Mokkamakkakul [Memorial of Sakda Mokkamakkakul] (2007) Bangkok (in Thai).Google Scholar
Blackstone, Amy, Uggen, Christopher, & McLaughlin, Heather (2009) “Legal Consciousness and Responses to Sexual Harassment.” 43 Law & Society Review 631–668.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (1992) Khu Mea Manut [Hand Book for Mankind], Bangkok: Dhamaspa (in Thai).Google Scholar
Chainaken, Chantana (2011) “Politics during the Royally—Appointed Prime Minister Sanya Dharmasakti 1973–1975 A.D.” Master of Arts diss., Thammasart University (in Thai).Google Scholar
Cremation Volume for Royally Sponsored Cremation of Professor Sanya Dharmasakti (2002) Bangkok: Wat Thepsirintrawads, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district.Google Scholar
Engel, David M., & Munger, Frank W. (2003) Rights of Inclusion: Law and Identity in the Life Stories of Americans with Disabilities, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Engel, David M., & Yngvesson, Barbara (1984) “Mapping Difficult Terrain ‘Legal Culture’, ‘Legal Consciousness’, and Other Hazards for the Intrepid Explorer.” 6 Law & Policy 299–307.Google Scholar
Friedman, Lawrence (1989) “Law, Lawyers and Popular Culture.” 98 Yale Law Journal 1579–1606.Google Scholar
Hartog, Hendrik (1995) “Abigail Bailey’s Coverture: Law in a Married Woman’s Consciousness,” in A. Sarat & T. R. Kearns, eds., Law in Everyday Life, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 63–108.Google Scholar
Kum kong Ajarn Sanya Dharmasakti [Words of Professor Sanya Dharmasakti] (2012) Bangkok: Sanya Dhamasakti Institution for Democracy (in Thai).Google Scholar
McCann, Michael (1994) Rights at Work: Pay Equity Reform and the Politics of Legal Mobilization, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Olson, Grant (1992) “Thai Cremation Volume: A Brief History of a Unique Genre of Literature.” 51 Asian Folklore Studies 279–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peetathawatchai, Vimolpan (2005) Sanya Dharmasakti Kon kong Pandin [Sanya Dharmasakti: Man of the Land], Bangkok: Thammasart University (in Thai).Google Scholar
Prachatham.com (2012) “Niti Morcho Phoed Wong Sewana Tulakarnpiwat: Rattapraharn Bon Banlung Sarn” [“Faculty of Law Chiang Mai University Open the Discussion on Judicial Activism: The Coup by the Court”] (2012) Prachatham, http://www.prachatham.com/detail.htm?code=n6_10062012_01 (accessed 15 September 2013).Google Scholar
Raktabutr, Shushirt (1972) “Karn Rayn Ngan Khuamdee Khuamshop Kong Phupipaksa” [“Report on Performance of Judges”]. 1 Dulapaha 17–21 (in Thai).Google Scholar
Sanguthai, Yud (1977) Khuamroo Beaung Ton Keaw Kab Kodmai Tuapai [General and Basic Knowledge about Law], Bangkok: Thammasart University Press (in Thai).Google Scholar
Sarat, Austin (1990) “The Law Is All Over: Power, Resistance and Legal Consciousness of the Welfare Poor.” 2 Yale Journal of Law & the Humanities 343–379.Google Scholar
Sarttrajarn Sanya Dharmasakti kub Sarn and Krasrung Yuttitham [Professor Sanya Dharmasakti and the Court with Minister of Justice] (1990) Bangkok: The Supreme Court and Minister of Justice (in Thai).Google Scholar
Sarttrajarn Sanya Dharmasakti kub Thammasart [Professor Sanya Dharmasakti and Thammasart] (1991) Bangkok: Thammasart Association under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King (in Thai).Google Scholar
Setthabut, Noranit (2006) Sanya kub Prachatibpatrai [Sanya and Democracy], Bangkok: Thammasart University.Google Scholar
Shewit Lae Karn Tum Ngan Thongbai Thongpao Tanai Prachachon-Tanai Magsaysay Law Ngan Kean Communist Lad Yao [Life and Work of Thongbai Thonpao: People’s Lawyer, Magsaysay’ Lawyer and Writing of Communist Lad Yao] (2011) Bangkok: Pechprakai (in Thai).Google Scholar
Siwalak, Sulak (2002) “Kum Wai Arai Ajarn Sanya Dhamasakti” [“Last Word Tribute to Prof. Sanya Dhamasakti”]. 52 Sejiyadham 98–99.Google Scholar
Sroipisut, Wasan (2013) Reang (Mai) Sanook Nai Sarn Rattathummanune [Not Fun Stories in the Constitutional Court], Bangkok: Ton Dharm (in Thai).Google Scholar
Tee raluk ngan phrachatan pling sop Sarttrajarn Sanya Dharmasakti kub tan puying Panga Dharmasakti [Memoriam of Royally Sponsored Cremation of Professor Sanya Dharmasakti and Lady Panga Dharmasakti] (2002) Royal Crematory Wat Thepsirintrawads (in Thai).Google Scholar
Vilavarn, Kasemsan (2012) Kon Tadsin Kon [Man Judge Man], Bangkok: Vinyuchon (in Thai).Google Scholar