Managing the Workload of Chinese Courts: An Empirical and Comparative Perspective

This book presents a systematic empirical study of contemporary China's litigation case volume, judges’ workload, and how courts attempt to alleviate the problem of “high caseloads with insufficient personnel” through enhanced management practices.

By comparing caseloads and judge numbers across Chinese, U.S., and Japanese court systems, it shows that contemporary Chinese courts are also compelled to confront the “case-judge imbalance.” Using nationwide survey data, the book indicates that Chinese judges bear an exceptionally heavy workload and significant stress, partly due to non-adjudicative work they are required to perform. The book describes how Chinese courts have employed trial management techniques to mitigate this problem. It also demonstrates how digital infrastructure supports scientific court management. The book analyzes the characteristics of Chinese court management and offers policy suggestions to address the global challenges of the case-judge imbalance and judicial capacity crisis.

Scholars of court management, comparative judicial systems, and those interested in China studies will find the book appealing.

Jinhua Cheng (J.S.D., Yale University) is the Director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Libraries, Distinguished Professor of Law, Vice President of the China Institute for Socio-Legal Studies, and Director of the Center for Empirical Legal Studies. His main research areas include empirical legal studies, sociology of law, and judicial systems.