A gavel in a court. [Photo/IC]

2. Improving the judicial accountability system

In September 2015, the Supreme People's Court promulgated certain opinions on improving the judicial accountability system in the people's courts to guide the pilot courts during the reform process.

Since the national conference on reform of the judicial system held in July 2016, changes to the judicial accountability system have been implemented nationwide. They include judge quotas and are centered on the operating mechanism of adjudicative power and the accountability system for judges and collegiate panels handling cases.

The Supreme People's Court has promulgated relevant regulations expressly providing that a judge shall be responsible for his or her performance of duties and the quality of cases handled. A judge shall be held liable for illegal adjudication if he or she intentionally violates the laws in adjudication or commits any gross negligence resulting in any wrong judgment and causing any serious consequences.