Legal safeguard for lawyers to exercise rights in court

ON SEPT 20, the Supreme People's Court and several other top judicial authorities jointly issued a regulation aimed at protecting lawyers' working rights like access to court materials and meeting their clients. The detailed regulation comes in the wake of reports saying many lawyers have been denied access to necessary court materials or prevented from meeting their clients. Comments:

Still believing in the principle that emphasizes State power over personal rights, certain local courts and prosecutors' offices view lawyers as adversaries. They often use their power to prevent lawyers from exercising their rights. The new regulation was more than necessary because only when lawyers are able to freely defend their clients in court can the rule of law be truly promoted.

Beijing News, Sept 21