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More reforms are needed to China's judicial system to overcome problems over transparency and corrupt judges, the country's top judge said yesterday. In his annual report to the National People's Congress, Wang Shengjun, chief justice of the Supreme People's Court, said the court will work to create a better legal environment to protect economic and social development and deepen judicial reform. "Some courts have not done well in improving transparency of court affairs and promoting a democratic judicial system," Wang said. He criticized some judges for working styles that delayed hearings, adding that a small number had taken bribes. This year, efforts will be made to speed up civil cases involving small sums of money and to improve rules allowing citizens to observe trials, he said. Wang said courts should make more effort in accepting supervision from the public, including soliciting public opinion and paying more heed to media reports. Last year, 77 judges and court staff were prosecuted for embezzlement, bribery or other crimes connected to their work, 30 percent fewer than the year before. Wang said the Supreme Court examined more than 11,800 cases in 2011, down 1.8 percent from the previous year. Local courts heard more than 12.2 million cases, up 4.4 percent. |
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