An exemplary leader on front line of politics and justice

Editor's note: Xiao Yang, the former chief justice of the Supreme People's Court, died of illness in Beijing on Friday. He was 81. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

Xiao graduated from the law department of Renmin University of China in 1962, having worked his way up from being a village teacher in his hometown of Heyuan in Guangdong province. He not only witnessed China's fundamental changes, he was also a key part of them.

As a major driver of judicial reform in China after the launch of reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, Xiao initiated the founding of China's anti-corruption system, played a leading role in establishing the country's first anti-graft bureau, supported the introduction of China's first Law on Lawyers and the Prison Law, and prompted reform of the death penalty approval system so that the supreme court has the right to review the death sentence－a crucial measure to prevent and correct any mistrials.

These moves have all been central to bridging the gap between the fast social and economic development and China's comparatively backward judicial and legal systems in the 1990s and 2000s, laying a solid foundation for future reforms.

To some extent, by transforming his vision into concrete institutional progress, Xiao served as a key link between the judicial system of the past and the development of the rule of law. The reforms he promoted ensure the judicial system can protect citizens' legal rights, limit power and safeguard public interests.

Xiao was also keen to promote some young and down-to-earth reformists in the judicial and legal systems, most of whom have played important roles in making breakthroughs in later judicial reforms. Also, Xiao dedicated considerable time and energy after his retirement to tutoring doctoral candidates in law at his alma mater, urging the students to study China's practical national conditions and explore ways to strengthen the rule of law in China.

In a speech at Renmin University of China in 2014, probably his last public speech, Xiao said that he still had dreams for the rule of law in China. Hopefully, the courage and professionalism Xiao demonstrated can inspire more in the judiciary to advance the rule of law in China.