Mobile judicial teams ensure justice for all

陈小将

Editor's note: This year marks the fifth anniversary of the introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. This story is the second in a series exploring its implementation across the country.

In the Narat grassland of Ili in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, a mobile judicial team led by Aytnur Bolatbek is a familiar sight. Carrying a shield-sized national emblem and riding on horseback, the team traverses the herding paths and yurt settlements to resolve disputes for herders and tourists alike.

"Our mission is to deliver legal services wherever justice is needed," said Aytnur, chief judge of the Narat tribunal of the court in Xinyuan county.

A few months ago, Aytnur and his team arrived at a yurt to mediate a dispute between two brothers over the management of a pasture.

"I live far from the court and don't have a car. Having the judges resolve my case right at my doorstep was a huge relief," said the younger brother.

Highlighting the crucial role of such mobile teams, which are frequently seen in remote areas and at tourist spots across China, Aytnur noted, "They provide easier access to legal services and justice for people, especially those who cannot travel or are pressed for time."

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, the country's top court, said that improving convenience for litigants and optimizing legal services are key measures to implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, which was introduced in November 2020 at a central conference in Beijing focused on comprehensive law-based governance.

With a people-centered approach upheld, the thought stresses the need to guarantee the fairness and justice that are the core and lifeblood of the judiciary.

Preventive framework

The thought also requires the development of a strong legal system to ensure that every citizen perceives fairness and justice in every case, and it calls for enhancing a preventive legal framework to maintain social harmony and stability, and to thereby continuously improve people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

To meet these needs, Shen Liang, vice-president of the top court, said that efforts are being intensified to establish a more convenient, efficient, low-cost and cross-regional dispute resolution mechanism. This involves improving mobile courts, applying technologies in judicial affairs and diversifying the methods of addressing legal issues to ensure that fairness and justice are fulfilled in a more visible and tangible way.

While helping herders alleviate conflicts at their doorsteps, Aytnur's team also brings legal services directly to tourists, reducing their travel costs and time spent in dispute resolution.

Aytnur said the mobile judiciary is particularly active during summer, because the season marks the peak of tourism in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture, drawing visitors to its natural beauty and cultural heritage.

To resolve disputes arising from the boom in tourism at their origin, 15 mobile judicial units similar to Aytnur's have been set up at major tourist destinations throughout the prefecture, facilitating case handling to guarantee that justice is both timely and accessible, according to the prefecture's court.

In July last year, a 73-year-old tourist surnamed Chen injured his leg after falling from a horse in the Narat scenic area. He turned to Aytnur's team because he was unable to negotiate compensation with the horse rental company.

Thanks to the team's quick response, clear explanation of legal provisions and coordination with a third-party assessor to determine a fair compensation amount, the dispute was resolved on the grassland, where the company agreed to pay Chen 40,000 yuan ($5,635) and cover any reasonable additional medical fees.

Aytnur expressed his empathy for tourists, who usually have limited time and wish to avoid any disputes that could disrupt their holiday experience. "Such efficient delivery of legal services and effective resolution serve as timely relief for these travelers," he said.

The development of the mobile courts in the view of Shen, the vice-president of the top court, is a measure to enhance people's sense of judicial accessibility and satisfaction. He encouraged judges to deliver legal services to rural areas, including villages and remote communities, to address disputes at their origin.