Supreme Court Judge Shao Yen-ling has turned down the nomination by President Ma Ying-jeou to serve as one of the four justices for the Constitutional Court. Ma's recommendation has sparked criticism among many, with the media reopening the discussion of Shao's past ruling of a sexual assault case of a three-year-old girl, which led to public outrage at the time.

Last year, Supreme Court justice Shao Yen-ling was denounced by White Rose Movement supporters after finding a man not guilty of raping a three-year old girl because the child showed no resistance.

Both pan-blue and pan-green legislators expressed opposition to her nomination as a Constitutional Court grand justice, and called on the nomination committee to issue an interpretation of Shao's ruling.

The lawmakers also called on Shao to issue a public explanation of her ruling. On Thursday, Shao released a statement through the Judicial Yuan defending her decision, saying that the ruling was reviewed by experts from different arenas and found to be appropriate and reasonable.

However, Shao also said that she was withdrawing her name from consideration for grand justice.

President Ma Ying-jeou has announced that National Taiwan University Graduate Institute of National Development's Professor Tang De-zong to replace Shao on the candidate list.