An appointment ceremony of the fourth batch of special supervisors is held by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) at the National Judges College on Aug 25, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

A total of 149 special supervisors were appointed at a ceremony held by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) at the National Judges College on Aug 25. President of the SPC Zhang Jun attended the event, which was presided over by Deng Xiuming, deputy secretary of the leading Party members' group of the SPC.

The top court started the special supervisor mechanism in 2010, when 60 supervisors were appointed for the first term. Based on their respective fields of work and professional expertise, the supervisors have earnestly fulfilled their supervision duties by reflecting social conditions and public opinion in a timely manner through various forms and channels, and have offered suggestions and contributed their wisdom to court work such as trials and enforcement, judicial reform and judicial team building.

President of the Supreme People's Court Zhang Jun issues letters of appointment to the special supervisors of the new term. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

This year's appointment came as the fourth term, which saw deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) appointed as special supervisors who represent various fields including law, education, healthcare, scientific research and the economy. Nearly half of the supervisors are serving the third term.

At the ceremony, representatives of the supervisors expressed their confidence and determination to fulfill their duties, and put forward suggestions on the court work. Zhang acknowledged the supervision role of the NPC and CPPCC, as well as of the special supervisors in the achievements made by the people's courts over the years. He urged them to strengthen supervision of judicial trials and execution, and to identify any weaknesses of the people's courts in judicial governance, team building and judicial reform. They are expected to fully tap their think tank role and contribute to the modernization of trial work by conducting in-depth surveys at courts, participating in the demonstration of major matters and hearing of major cases. They are also expected to actively participate in legal popularization given their extensive representation and influence, Zhang said.

He also called on all SPC departments to involve the supervisors more often in their work, innovate ways of their participation, and  give timely feedback on every proposal or suggestion given by the supervisors.

Deputy Director of the NPC's Deputies Affairs Commission Kong Ling and Deputy Secretary-General of the 14th CPPCC National Committee Zou Jiayi also attended the event.