Citizens' role in judicial cases grows

Ordinary Chinese citizens are playing a growing role in judicial proceedings, particularly in cases involving public interest or significant social impact, by serving as people's assessors and offering their perspectives, an official with China's top court said on Friday.

Sun Zhenping, head of the Political Department of the Supreme People's Court, said people's assessors help promote justice and enhance public security under the rule of law. Their participation also reflects the concept of whole-process people's democracy, he said.

China's people's assessor system, which dates back to the 1930s, allows citizens aged 28 or older to participate directly in the judicial proceedings. The system safeguards the public's rights to be informed, participate in, express opinions and oversee judicial activities. In April 2018, a law regulating the selection, duties and conduct of assessors was adopted and took effect immediately.

"Following the law, assessors are increasingly involved in cases of public interest or broad concern, such as those related to public safety, the national economy, people's livelihood, and public morals," Sun said.

For public interest litigation cases, in which defendants face possible prison sentences of 10 years or more, life imprisonment or death penalty, and disputes with significant social impact — including those involving land expropriation, environmental protection, and food and drug safety — the law requires a seven-member collegial panel of judges and assessors, he said.

"These efforts highlight the growing depth and breadth of assessor involvement in our judicial proceedings," he added.

Li Wenyun, a people's assessor who works on a community committee in Beijing's Haidian district, shared her experience handling a case in which a man surnamed Mu mentally abused his former girlfriend, leading to her suicide. Mu was ultimately sentenced to three years and two months in prison for maltreatment.

Li recalled that before the hearing, she carefully reviewed the case files and checked the evidence item by item, focusing on where Mu and the victim had lived together, how often and for how long they had cohabited, and their financial dealings.

"That allowed me to ask Mu targeted questions during the hearing, helping the collegial panel piece together the facts," she said.

"I started from the simple principle that men and women should treat each other with respect and care, and drew on my experience working in the residential area to offer my views on whether Mu's conduct constituted the crime of maltreatment and whether it was linked to the victim's suicide. The panel adopted my opinions," she said.

After the trial, Li also offered suggestions on the findings of fact and drafting legal explanations. "What I did was to make the judgment strictly follow the law while better responding to public concerns," she added.

She said participating in case handling is both a duty and an opportunity to learn about the law, helping raise legal awareness among more residents.

Ning Liping, a people's assessor in Sichuan province and a university teacher, has drawn on her expertise in environmental protection cases. In one case, she identified flaws in an appraisal report, helping the panel avoid delays and suggesting more feasible restoration methods.

While expressing pride in participating in judicial work, Ning said, "Being an assessor has also enriched my research and teaching, as real-world cases can provide valuable study samples and lively teaching materials, taking my teaching beyond textbook theory."

Shi Dongbo, another official with the SPC's Political Department, praised assessors' contributions but stressed the importance of effective judicial guidance.

The SPC has issued clear guidelines requiring judges to brief assessors on case facts, disputes and court procedures before hearings, ensuring they have access to case files and understand the rules for questioning during trials, Shi said.

By the end of 2025, China had about 340,000 people's assessors, nearly three times the number in 2013, according to data released by the SPC in January.