Shanghai board to shed light on the law
Group has power to appoint and punish judges, prosecutors - but is it just for show?
Shanghai is pioneering a push to improve the credibility of the mainland's legal system by becoming the first city to have a board to appoint and punish judges and prosecutors.
Its 15-person board, which met for the first time on Saturday, comprises seven senior officials from various municipal departments as well as eight academics and industry professionals, Jiefang Daily reported.
However, one expert claims the panel is merely decorative.
Shen Guoming, party chief of the Shanghai Social Sciences Association, was elected the board's director. He has four deputies: a deputy chief procurator of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate, a top official from the municipal party committee's organisation department, a deputy chief judge of the Shanghai Higher People's Court and a deputy director of the municipal politics and law committee .
The board will select judges and prosecutors from the ranks of court and procuratorate assistants. Leading lawyers will also be considered for the positions.
In addition, the board will be responsible for promotions and recommending punishment for those guilty of misconduct.