The procedure, expected to be in place by the end of the year, is a new measure taken by the capital city's courts to help increase judicial justice and efficiency, according to Wang Zhenqing, vice-president of Beijing Higher People's Court.

All judges who have had more than two years' legal education and more than three years' experience can apply to be presiding judges, according to a notice issued by Wang's court.

Presiding judges take charge of courts which are normally staffed by three judges.

Before the new procedure was implemented, presiding judges were chosen by the chief of the court division.

Normal practice was that they went to the court division or judicial council for guidance before making a judgment.

A report was made to the court authority, who would then make the decision about the case, so the judge's decision would not be final.

"It did not only hamper judicial efficiency, but there could be injustices whenever there was insufficient communication in cases certain,'' Wang said.

Now, presiding judges will be given more powers in determining case judgments and will not have to go to their bosses before closing a trial unless they need guidance, Wang said.

As a result, the decisions of the presiding judges, who will be appointed after a fierce competition, could not be interfered with, he said.

The judges will be appraised annually and have to apply for their positions again after three years, said Li Dayuan, a member of the court's judicial council.

"We hope the presiding judges will have the honour, responsibility and momentum to keep learning,'' Wang said.

"The new steps are being taken to select the best of the judges.''

There was a "considerable'' disparity of professionalism among the 5,000 judges of the city, he added.

Selected presiding judges would account for 10 to 15 percent of all judges, Li said.

The number of presiding judges was calculated on the basis of the average number of cases the court handled every year, he added.

(China Daily)