Chief Judge Xiao Yang and Minister of Justice Zhang Fusen on Thursday jointly demanded a crackdown on corruption in the relationship between judges and lawyers in a bid to safeguard justice.

Speaking at a video telephone conference held in Beijing to urge judges and lawyers nationwide to employ established rules regulating their relationship, Xiao Yang said a fair relationship between judges and lawyers is important to the country's administration of justice. However, some unlawful relationships between judges and lawyers have emerged.

"Some judges accept bribes from litigants and lawyers behind the scenes. Some exert their power to introduce business to lawyers," Xiao said.

Zhang said that although most of China's 100,000 professional lawyers are good, some still depended on bribes to win their cases. The practice severely damages the administration of justice.

Xiao said the large income gap between Chinese judges and lawyers facilitates corruption, warning judges at all levels that one charge of corruption could damage their entire career.

"Therefore, judges should carefully and prudently exert their powers," he said.

He also urged courts at all levels to try to improve working and living conditions for judges so that they could better resist offers of bribes.

He said severe punishment would be meted out to judges who continue to break the rules. He also welcomed supervision from lawyers and society, asking them to report any improper behavior on the part of judges.

Zhang also welcomed supervision from society, and demanded lawyers' associations nationwide to deal carefully with all cases reported by the members of the public on lawyers' improper conduct with judges.

(China Daily June 4, 2004)