The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) convened a meeting on April 11 to analyze and assess adjudication data for the first quarter of 2026. Zhang Jun, president of the SPC, presided over the meeting.
The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) convenes a meeting to analyze and assess adjudication data for the first quarter of 2026 on April 11. Zhang Jun, president of the SPC, presides over the meeting. [Photo/court.gov.cn]
In the first quarter, courts nationwide implemented the decisions and arrangements made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the resolution of the National People’s Congress on the SPC’s work report. Efforts were made to uphold strict and impartial justice, while steadily enhancing the quality and efficiency of adjudication.
From the perspective of caseloads, diversified dispute resolution mechanisms continued to expand, helping resolve more conflicts at an early stage. The number of first-instance criminal cases declined, with cases involving dangerous driving, theft, fraud, intentional injury and traffic accidents still accounting for a relatively large share — though all saw notable year-on-year decreases.
Cases involving corruption, bribery and contract fraud rose slightly. Civil and commercial disputes such as sales contracts, divorce and motor vehicle traffic accidents declined significantly, while disputes over shareholder contributions, bank cards, loan contracts and property service contracts increased markedly.
Circuit adjudications continued to play an effective role in resolving disputes locally, contributing to a steady decline in petitioning cases brought to the SPC in Beijing. Efforts to clear long-pending cases achieved visible results, though sustained attention remains necessary.
In terms of judicial performance, the number of cases successfully resolved through pre-litigation mediation increased substantially in the quarter, while the appeal rate and the rate of application for retrial both declined year-on-year, easing the litigation burden on the public.
The ratio of revised judgments to cases remanded for retrial improved, reflecting greater responsibility and effectiveness on the part of higher-level courts. The ratio of cases to petitions decreased, indicating more substantive resolution of disputes.
At the same time, challenges remain, including a high overall caseload and difficulties in fully resolving disputes. Indicators reflecting efficiency, such as the case closure rate within statutory time limits and the average case processing time, still need improvement.
During the meeting, senior officials of the SPC and heads of its departments and divisions analyzed the data in light of their respective areas of responsibility and proposed targeted measures.
Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen guidance on mediation, improve legal education in schools, enhance the implementation of judicial recommendations, maintain high standards in enforcement-related preservation measures, and consolidate the effectiveness of state compensation review and recourse mechanisms.
Progress in areas such as intellectual property dispute reductions in economically advanced regions was noted as evidence of improved governance at the source.
Participants called for further research into areas showing positive trends to consolidate results. They urged court officials to strengthen case-based guidance by compiling and disseminating typical cases to enhance courts’ reasoning and dispute resolution capabilities.
Efforts should also be made to learn from effective practice in clearing long-pending criminal cases, strengthening guidance on retrial cases to avoid procedural inefficiencies, and accelerating the review and improvement of judicial interpretations related to the Ecological and Environmental Code, which will take effect on Aug 15.
“While the overall trend is improving, further efforts are needed to consolidate these achievements,” Zhang said, emphasizing the importance of identifying the real issues behind the data.
He stressed that the SPC’s leading officials should fully perform their supervisory and guiding roles, take the lead in fulfilling their responsibilities, and strengthen guidance at the grassroots level to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of adjudication across courts nationwide.
He called for a thorough review of the issues identified through data analysis, with prominent problems to be communicated through appropriate channels and followed up with effective supervision to ensure proper rectification and tangible improvements.
He also urged a systematic assessment of issues in social governance reflected in adjudication work, and the development of targeted policy recommendations, to better support high-quality development.
Attendees included Deng Xiuming, executive vice-president of the SPC; Tao Kaiyuan, vice-president of the SPC; and Zhang Rongshun, supervisor of the discipline inspection group working at the SPC dispatched by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.
Others were SPC vice-presidents Yang Linping, Mao Zhonghua, Shen Liang, Li Yong, Wang Zhongming and Gao Xiaoli; along with standing members of the SPC’s Adjudication Committee Liu Guixiang and Wang Shumei, and representatives from departments and circuit tribunals of the SPC.
