Latest judicial reform to improve judicial independence: chief justice

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Latest judicial reform to improve judicial independence: chief justice

(Xinhua) 15:16, August 12, 2013

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BEIJING, Aug. 12 -- China has started a new round of judicial reform to tackle problems impeding judicial justice, China's chief justice wrote in an article published on Monday.

The reform is aimed at making breakthroughs in improving the judicial system, especially enhancing the independence of judges and prosecutors and curbing interference from other sources of power and the influence of profits, wrote Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), in a byline article published by the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Judicial departments are urged to adopt measures to curb outside intervention and improve their work styles, Zhou wrote.

Although the country's legislation has progressed well, greater efforts are needed in the implementation of laws, the article stated, adding that the full and effective implementation of laws is the most important factor in promoting the rule of law in China.

Judicial departments should bear their duties of upholding justice and protecting the authority of the law in every court case, Zhou wrote.

In addition, the chief justice called on officials to "be always in awe of the Constitution and laws."

Officials, especially those in charge, should set an example by abiding by laws and maintaining the principle that the red line of the law should not be crossed, Zhou wrote.

Judicial departments should also firmly believe in the ideal of the law and socialist legal system while consciously resisting the infiltration of Western concepts, he wrote in the article.

Chinese courts have been under public scrutiny since a string of cases involving the miscarriage of justice and scandals involving judges were exposed.

On July 2, a Zhejiang court overturned sentences for five men who were wrongfully convicted of robbing and killing two taxi drivers 18 years ago.

Last week, four senior judges from Shanghai's higher court were removed from their positions for allegedly hiring prostitutes at a nightclub.

The SPC on Wednesday said the four court officials have tarnished the image of the nation's judges and scarred judicial credibility.

It has ordered courts across the country to fight corruption and eliminate black sheep to stop similar events from occurring in the future.