Morley Shih

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]

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]