Supreme People's Court

Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国最高人民法院
Supreme People's Court Emblem
Main gate
Interactive map of Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China
39°54′10.7″N 116°24′18.9″E / 39.902972°N 116.405250°E / 39.902972; 116.405250
Established22 October 1949
LocationBeijing, China
Coordinates39°54′10.7″N 116°24′18.9″E / 39.902972°N 116.405250°E / 39.902972; 116.405250
Composition methodPresidential selection with National People's Congress approval
Authorised byConstitution of the People's Republic of China
Judge term length5 years
Websiteenglish.court.gov.cn
President and Chief Justice
CurrentlyZhang Jun
Since11 March 2023
Executive Vice President
CurrentlyDeng Xiuming
Since5 July 2023
Supreme People's Court
Simplified Chinese中华人民共和国最高人民法院
Traditional Chinese中華人民共和國最高人民法院
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōnghuá rénmín gònghéguó zuìgāo rénmín fǎyuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzung1waa4 jan4man4 gung6wo4gwok3 zeoi3gou1 jan4man4 faat3jyun2
Commonly abbreviated as
Simplified Chinese最高法院
Traditional Chinese最高法院
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZuìgāo fǎyuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzeoi3gou1 faat3jyun2
Further abbreviated as
Simplified Chinese最高院
Traditional Chinese最高院
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZuìgāo yuàn
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzeoi3gou1 jyun2

The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China (SPC) is the highest court of the People's Republic of China. It hears appeals of cases from the high people's courts and is the trial court for cases about matters of national importance.

The Supreme People's Court was established in October 1949, and its functions were first outlined in 1954. During the Cultural Revolution, the court was occupied by the People's Liberation Army from 1968 to 1973. During the period of reform and opening up, the court began to focus on legal issues.

According to the country's constitution, the Supreme People's Court is accountable to the National People's Congress. The court has about 400 judges and more than 600 administrative personnel. The court serves as the highest court for the People's Republic of China and also for cases investigated by the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong. The special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau have separate judicial systems based on British common law traditions and Portuguese civil law traditions respectively, and are out of the jurisdiction of the Supreme People's Court.