Empirical Assessment of Chinese Judicial Personnel's Workload

Based on a questionnaire survey of 1,099 judicial personnel in courts across China, this chapter provides an empirical assessment of the workload and work pressure faced by contemporary Chinese court staff, particularly quota judges. The empirical findings reveal that a considerable proportion of Chinese judges reported frequently working overtime, and a relatively high percentage perceived themselves as facing heavy workload pressures. The survey also indicates that, in addition to the continuous increase of litigations in recent years, time spent on non-adjudicative duties is a significant factor contributing to the heavy workload among Chinese judges, and this has consequently exerted a negative impact on their professional identity.