On June 20, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) held a national teleconference to discuss advancing circuit court reform and strengthening the SPC's pivotal role in safeguarding political security and social stability. Zhang Jun, president of the SPC, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. 

A national teleconference on advancing circuit court reform and strengthening the Supreme People’s Court’s role in safeguarding political security and social stability is convened on June 20. Zhang Jun, president of the SPC, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang emphasized that circuit court reform is vital to modernizing China’s judicial system. He stressed the need to shift judicial resources downward to the grassroots, resolve disputes on-site, and improve access to justice for the public.

Over the past year, the SPC has fully implemented reforms by expanding the scope of circuit adjudications, enhancing the dispute resolution functions of circuit courts, and upgrading litigation services, according to Zhang.

Zhang urged greater efforts to conduct circuit adjudications in cases where they facilitate fact-finding, improve litigation accessibility and address public concerns. He called for better coordination in organizing adjudications, field research, and professional exchanges, in order to maximize efficiency of each circuit session.

Underscoring the core duty of local dispute resolution, Zhang encouraged circuit courts to refine their use of tools such as legal clarification and reasoning, public hearings, and joint mediation. He also emphasized the use of digital tools—including case databases and legal consultation platforms—to help more thoroughly address litigants’ concerns. Strengthening both online and offline litigation services, he said, is essential to improving judicial efficiency and accessibility.

Zhang also highlighted the importance of refining collaborative mechanisms for dispute resolution. He urged high people’s courts to take the lead in supervising the handling of complex cases, improving case-specific leadership responsibility systems , and ensuring high-quality adjudications. Circuit courts should actively guide lower courts in resolving petition-related disputes in accordance with the law, helping resolve disputes at the grassroots level.

In terms of internal governance, Zhang called for stronger accountability among the "key few", improved internal management systems, and enhanced institutional support.

The meeting was chaired by Mao Zhonghua, vice-president of the SPC, and attended by justices including Vice-President Shen Liang and standing members of the SPC’s Adjudication Committee Wang Shumei and He Li. Representatives from high people’s courts, relevant departments of the SPC, and judges from its circuit courts attended the meeting.