THE EVOLUTION OF CHINA’S COURT SYSTEM: INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE RISE OF SMART JUDICIAL GOVERNANCE

The transformation occurred in distinct phases, including the early conventional system (1949–late 1970s), post-reform institutional reconstruction (late 1970s–1990s), performance evaluation and professionalization (2000–2013), judicial accountability reforms and digital foundations (2014–2016), and the integration of smart court technologies (2016–present). Each phase reflects a state-led model of judicial modernization, emphasizing efficiency, centralized supervision, and gradual professionalization. Smart courts, incorporating artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and Internet Courts, represent not merely technological upgrades but a systemic reconfiguration of judicial governance. While these developments have improved access to justice, transparency, and consistency, they also present challenges, including algorithmic bias, cybersecurity risks, digital exclusion, and tensions between efficiency and judicial autonomy. This paper traces the evolution of the Chinese court system from conventional, administration-oriented institutions to technologically advanced smart courts. The paper also highlights the long-term implications of China’s smart court model for judicial independence, the rule of law, and comparative legal studies. Keywords: Smart courts, judicial modernization, China, digital adjudication, judicial accountability