Chinese courts establish spokesman system to ensure public's "right to know"

A spokesman system has been established in all Chinese higher courts and the Supreme People's Court (SPC) to enhance the transparency of judicial work, SPC president Xiao Yang said here Tuesday.

"We have now 65 spokesmen for courts at the two levels, including two spokesmen for the Supreme People's Court," Xiao said at a meeting about the courts' publicity work.

Xiao said establishment of the spokesman system will bring about major changes in the courts' approach to news reporting and publicity work and their work styles.

"With the spokesman system, the courts will adopt a more positive attitude towards news reporting and publicity work," said Xiao.

He said the courts will release information on important trials on their own initiative. They will also release information to explain certain issues and refute rumors.

He said intermediate people's courts and grass-roots courts should also establish the spokesman system if they possess the conditions required to guide public opinion and "ensure the public's right to know".

Source: Xinhua