In 2003, the Supreme People's Court overcame the difficulties caused by the SARS outbreak, raised judicial efficiency and made all-out efforts to fulfill its responsibilities. Through the year, the court concluded 3,587 civil and administrative cases of second instance, cases of review of death sentences by lower-level courts and cases of justice supervision. It also ruled on 372 appeals on civil cases and commercial cases concerning foreign parties with 13.48 billion yuan involved, where litigants refused to accept the rulings of local higher people's courts, as well as granted retrials to 59 such cases. In addition, it oversaw and coordinated 293 major trans-provincial court ruling enforcement cases in civil and commercial fields by force of law. The Supreme People's Court received 120,000 letters and visits complaining trial results in 2003. In line with the principle of layered administration, it handled 2,089 appeals and applications for retrial and timely put those eligible cases on file for investigation, offering legal relief to plaintiffs who are able to justify their accusations.

The Supreme People's Court supported and respected the independent and fair trial of cases by local courts at various levels, while enhanced supervision and guidance of their work. Over the past year, local courts have adjudicated a total of 5,687,905 cases of various kinds involving 768.5 billion yuan, up 0.78 percent and 8.33 percent year on year, respectively.

With the launch of an overhaul of judicial works nationwide with the theme of "fairness and efficiency," courts at all levels re-examined 1.12 million criminal, civil, administrative and enforcement cases and redressed 5,805 wrong cases.

Great efforts were made by courts at all levels to investigate and handle criminal cases of extended detention and civil and administrative cases of extended trial. By December 31, 2003, the courts corrected 4,100 cases of extended detention, involving 7,658 people. Except for a few justifiable cases, the phenomenon was basically eliminated. Also, courts all over the country corrected 20,024 civil and administrative cases of extended trial.

In 2003, the Supreme People's Court formulated 20 items of judicial interpretations, gave replies to 576 questions regarding application of laws raised by local higher courts and issued 20 legal documents.