China's people's assessors play bigger role in major court cases

China's top court on Friday highlighted the growing role of people's assessors in cases involving public interests, high-profile issues and significant social influence, releasing details of nine such cases.

"This move underscores the role of people's assessors in promoting justice and enhancing public safety through the rule of law," said Sun Zhenping, head of the Political Department of the Supreme People's Court.

China's people's assessor system allows members of the public to participate directly in judicial proceedings, exercising their rights to be informed, participate, express their opinions and oversee judicial activities. Established in the 1930s, the system allows citizens serving as people's assessors to assist judges and evaluate evidence during trials. In April 2018, a law regulating the selection, duties and conduct of people's assessors was adopted and took effect immediately.

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.

"Assessors have increasingly participated in cases concerning public safety and essential societal issues," Sun said. "For cases involving public interest litigation, severe criminal charges, or significant social impact — such as land expropriation, environmental protection, and food and drug safety — a seven-member panel of judges and assessors is convened. This setup reflects the expanding role of assessors in the judicial process."

Sun stressed that assessors do more than attend court hearings; they actively participate throughout the trial process. They review case files, conduct investigations, ask questions, deliberate and vote on cases, drawing on their public perspective and life experience to help identify the causes of disputes and detect false statements, he said.

"Aligning the insights of assessors with judges' legal expertise ensures fairness and justice while aiding courts in interpreting the law," he added. "Furthermore, as China advances in areas like maritime, intellectual property, finance, environment, and international cases, assessors with specialized knowledge and experience are increasingly contributing to efficient case handling."