NewThirteen judges sworn in as China launches country’s first circuit court in Shenzhen

The mainland launched two legal experiments in Shenzhen yesterday, setting up the country's first circuit court and a court in Qianhai that will feature a jury with members from Hong Kong.

The circuit court is aimed at promoting judicial independence and reducing interference by local party officials.

A total of 13 judges have been appointed to the court, which will start hearings on Monday.

It will handle major administrative and civil cases across Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan provinces, and will act as the region's final appellate court, with the same power of final adjudication as the Supreme People's Court.

It was set up following the Communist Party's fourth plenum in October, during which the leadership pledged to improve courts' independence.

Supreme court spokesman Sun Jungong said last year that setting up circuit courts would empower local courts to "help solve local disputes" and "allow the supreme court to concentrate on making judicial policies and judicial interpretations". The Shenzhen circuit court will handle civil, commercial and administrative cases, criminal appeals, and cases involving Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan affairs.

Wang Cailiang, deputy director of the administrative law committee of the All China Lawyers Association, said the move was "moderate" reform.