Effective measures to protect judges help uphold rule of law

A file photo of China’s Supreme People's Court (SPC). [Photo: Xinhua]

A recent assault on a judge in a county in East China's Jiangsu province by a discontented litigant once again highlighted the urgent need for better protection of judges. CCTV.com commented on Sunday:

The judge of a court in Shuyang county was hit by a car on his way to work on Friday afternoon, and was then continually stabbed by the driver, a litigant who was dissatisfied with the judge's verdict in a court case.

This was the latest in a series of attacks against judges nationwide. On Jan 26, a retired judge in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region was stabbed to death at his home by the defendant in a divorce case he handled 22 years ago. In early 2016, a Beijing judge was shot at home by a man who was discontent with the verdict she handed down in his divorce case.

The frequent violent assaults on judges have made it imperative to find ways to protect them. Such bloody incidents mean that there should be no delay in establishing an effective mechanism to guarantee they can fulfill their responsibilities without worrying about their personal safety.

Judges are not only the mediators but also the final referees in disputes, so their rulings should be respected and observed by the parties involved, even if either party is dissatisfied with the outcome.

The Supreme People's Court issued a guideline on Feb 7, specifying concrete measures for judges' protection and vowing to punish those who disturb the work of the courts or assault judges and court employees. This is a much-needed move.

More workable follow-up measures should be taken so that the judiciary can work in an environment free from fear, and the authority and dignity of the law are maintained.