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Show Friday, September 24, WORLD Chinese lawyers, judges study law By JENNIFER LIN Knight Ridder Newspapers BEIJING Almost everything Leng Yijia, a knew about paralegal, American-styllaw was gleaned from movies and novels like John Grisham's "The e Firm." Her lasting impression: "Everyone wants to become a partner." Today, Leng and 34 others are studying U.S. law in a pioneering program set up in Beijing by Temple University in Philadelphia. The Chinese government approved the unprece dented experiment in legal reform to see what happens when Chinese lawyers, judges and prosecutors are trained in Shenzhen. China still severely limits the political freedom of individuals. The courts are not independent, the government controls the press and people ar e banned from freely speaking their minds or forming political organizations. The fundamental legal rights that Americans believe should be guaranteed to everyone a presumption of innocence until guilt is proved, the right to counsel, the right to a fair trial are still just conin China. cepts There are no jury trials. Most cases are decided by a American law. Zhang Mo, director of the Temple Law Program in China, said the modest experiment resembles the Chinese government's approach to economic reform two decades ago. Then, unsure about whether it would be beneficial to mix economics with a socialist society, the government tested the idea in economic "special zones," such as the city of market-oriente- American-styl- e d free-mark- "trial committee" including a judge and two representatives. Criminal suspects can be detained for as long as two years and one of three who get a trial doesn't have legal counsel. Most of the Temple students are already steeped in Chinese law. Six of them are judges, including two from China's Supreme Court. The rest are practicing lawyers, bureaucrats involved mostly in trade areas, law professors and recent law school graduates. "We're not trying to impose the American legal system on China," said Zhang, a gradu- court-appointe- d l 3 IA I AIJ NICKELS SOFT Orig. 89.00. "Notch" Orig. 69.00. 1 Michigan law school who also earned a doctorate from the Chinese University of Political Science and Law," Temple's host institution in China. "We're trying to give them how information about America has chosen to handle the legal problems that it has faced in the development of a a Qmm Orig. 59.00, YipiRir m o,ig. 69.00. r y yJ J NINE WEST "Darwin" Orig. r 1 j enzo : J NICKELS "Carol" Orig. 59.00. BANDOLINO Gisele Orig. 59.00. A y ' "Lafayette" ENZO V I " , ; .. :: ' '- - "Langella" t' I'jfci I H . , ..:.:' Orig. 60.00. fj::Tl l: jrryvay Priwo, llah - Pap: A !3 "It's true, our legal system is still developing," said Cui Dengshan, a new student in the Temple program, which is housed in a new center at the university, China's largest law school. "We can learn from the American legal system how to move forward our own Chinese legal system." 1 jI Ia 1). mm hdr cm Orig. 95.00. WVLS A NICKELS "Barclay" 'i' I ate of the University of legal system." NICKELS SOFT Tempest" V R Zhang Mo, direct r. Law Temple Program in China in NICKELS SOFT8 "Tyler" THi: DAILY HI "We're not trying to impose the American legal system on China. We're trying to give them information about how America has chosen to handle the legal problems..." (mm &$MRr& (lis. I IW, by store. 10-- 9 and Sunday 124 at all Dillard'i locations. Shop Monday-Saturda- y In Provo: Provo Towns Centra. In Salt Lake City: Fashion Placs and South Towns Canter. In Ogden: Newgate Mall. We welcome your Dillard's Credit Card, The American Express Card, Diners Club International, Mastercard, Visa and the Discover Card. i ii ii r ' i |
