Beijing court launches a groundbreaking initiative by appointing 21 retired judges as mediators

The Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court unveiled a groundbreaking initiative by appointing 21 retired judges as mediators on Friday. This effort aims to leverage their vast legal expertise to resolve disputes and boost public awareness of legal rights.

These judges, from Beijing and the provinces of Shandong, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, and Heilongjiang, have formed what is being called a "silver-haired mediation team". Their primary goal is to handle cases before they escalate to litigation, preventing conflicts from intensifying.

The court highlighted the crucial role of mediators in dispute resolution by showcasing eight successful cases mediated by this team on Friday. The cases covered a range of everyday issues, such as employment disputes, family property allocation, child support, and heating concerns.

Hou Chunying, a retired judge from the court, expressed her excitement about joining the team, saying, "I'm delighted to have a new platform to continue my passion for serving the community with my legal expertise."

She added, "As a mediator, I can leverage my over 30 years of adjudication experience to assist the public in resolving disputes from a fresh perspective."

Alongside these seasoned judges, the team includes two retired community committee leaders, aiming to better meet the public's legal needs and effectively promote a robust rule-of-law environment.

This initiative is the first of its kind in the nation, marking a significant advancement in the court's strategy to involve retired judges in grassroots governance and conflict prevention.