BEIJING, April 15 -- It just got much easier for Chinese citizens to bring lawsuits as a newly-released document has stipulated that cases will be accepted after simplified checks of the documents.

As long as the case is filed in accordance with laws, it should be registered on the spot, which means the judicial process begins.

Courts have previously subjected suit documents to thorough reviews, which involve the plaintiff's qualification, the claim, jurisdiction and evidence, before deciding whether to take the case.

Few members of the public are legal experts. Excessively complicated procedures left them with an impression that it's difficult to bring a suit to court.

The route to legal solutions was blocked before even coming to court.

So it's natural for people to resort to other means, including the petition system, in which they appeal to officials to solve their problems.

As China advances the rule of law, the entire legal system is expected to function smoothly and play a bigger role in governance.

The first step is establishing the law's authority, making people have faith in it.

Therefore, lowering the threshold for filing cases, which is a simple change for the courts, will make a great difference to the public.

They will know that the legal system is a resource to which everyone can turn to in defending their rights and interests.

While the document stresses protecting citizens' legal right of action, it also urges harsher punishment against those who abuse it.

It means bringing a lawsuit will be better regulated in order to make the judicial process serve those who really need it.

The procedure of filing a case is not the only thing that needs to be improved in the judicial system. Wrongful convictions, judicial corruption and other injustices have damaged the public's opinion of the judicial system.

The country has been reforming it step by step.

The Communist Party of China Central Committee's General Office, and the General Office of the State Council recently published a plan timetabling judicial and social reform.

To improve judicial justice and credibility, 48 measures -- including litigation reform to prioritize trials, making judges assume lifelong responsibility for cases they handle and holding them accountable for any miscarriages of justice, as well as improving the jury system and public supervision -- were outlined.

With these efforts, the rule of law is expected to be advanced more effectively.