On Thursday, the Supreme People's Court released a new five-year guideline for reforming China's court system.

The plan lists 65 measures to be taken between 2014 to 2018, that will guarantee greater fairness and justice in every case, and create an atmosphere for the rule of law by 2018.

The court stressed five basic principles for legal reform, including adhering to the party's leadership and ensuring a correct political orientation. It also called for more protections for criminal defendants, such as prohibiting the wearing of prison uniforms or clothes during their trial.

Other tasks include establishing a performance evaluation system for judges, and improving the mechanism for protecting lawyers' rights.

The reform plan also promises to boost transparency, making more information available to the public, opening media galleries in courts for certain trials, and changing the jurisdiction of courts to reduce any local bias.

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