Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, gives a lecture to judges on March 17 at the opening ceremony of the spring semester of the National Judges College. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, gave a lecture on March 17 at the opening ceremony of the spring semester of the National Judges College, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the judiciary's capacity to resolve disputes with high quality and efficiency.

Using specific cases as teaching examples, Zhang engaged in in-depth discussions with judges attending the event, highlighting that judicial adjudication is far more than simply determining facts and applying legal provisions. 

Taking two controversial cases as examples, he pointed out that even when facts are clear and laws are well-defined, different approaches to a case can lead to different outcomes. This, he said, makes the tasks of determining responsibilities and resolving disputes all the more challenging.

Noting that courts must serve the overall development of the country and uphold justice for the people, Zhang said that in handling cases, they should not rigidly apply legal provisions, but take relevant factors into consideration. 

Judgments should not only be legally sound but also effectively resolve disputes, achieving integrated political, legal and social effects that uphold fairness and justice for the people, he said.

Zhang emphasized that judicial adjudication must strictly adhere to the law. Here, the "law" encompasses not only specific legal provisions but also the principles of the rule of law and the public's sense of justice, he added.

It is important to interpret legal provisions correctly in response to new situations arising from economic and social changes, he said.

"The more contentious a case is, the more crucial it is to strictly adhere to the law to ensure the judgment withstands scrutiny," Zhang said.

Drawing from the handling of two criminal cases last year, Zhang added that faithful enforcement of the Constitution and the law, along with strict adherence to legal procedures, is the bottom line of judicial adjudication. 

While handling cases with significant social influence and wide public attention, courts should strictly follow legal procedures and uphold the spirit of the rule of law, he said. By rigorously establishing facts, accurately applying the law, and safeguarding social fairness and justice, the judiciary acts as the "last line of defense" in upholding the rule of law, he said.

As courts face the challenge of handling a large number of cases and making judgments in complex situations, balancing the interests of all parties becomes paramount in resolving increasingly complicated disputes. 

Leading cadres of courts participating in the training program on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to advance the modernization of judicial work, judges and judicial officers from the Supreme People's Court and local courts attend the event either in-person or online. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Reflecting on a dispute that took courts seven years to resolve, Zhang emphasized that making definitive judgments and resolving disputes effectively requires a thorough understanding of the substantive issues behind the disputes.

He highlighted the pivotal role of courts’ leadership in strengthening judicial supervision and management. By participating in judges meetings and discussing cases in adjudication committees, they should set examples for other judges, and enhance overall judicial capabilities, he said.