In an innovative move for China’s judicial system, the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court has established a pioneering mediation unit composed entirely of retired legal professionals. On December 5, 2025, the court formally appointed 21 former judges to spearhead this groundbreaking initiative aimed at leveraging decades of judicial expertise for community dispute resolution.
The newly formed team, drawing retired judges from Beijing and multiple provinces including Shandong, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, and Heilongjiang, represents the nation’s first specialized mediation corps of its kind. These legal veterans bring collective experience spanning hundreds of years in adjudication to their new roles as mediators.
Their primary mission focuses on intercepting disputes before they escalate into formal litigation, addressing conflicts across diverse areas including employment disagreements, family property distribution, child support arrangements, and public utility concerns such as heating disputes. The court recently highlighted the team’s effectiveness by showcasing eight successfully mediated cases that demonstrated their capability in resolving complex community issues.
Among the appointees is Hou Chunying, a retired judge from the very court now launching this initiative, who expressed enthusiasm about continuing her service to the community. ‘I’m delighted to have a new platform to continue my passion for serving the community with my legal expertise,’ Hou stated. ‘As a mediator, I can leverage my over 30 years of adjudication experience to assist the public in resolving disputes from a fresh perspective.’
Complementing the judicial expertise, the team also incorporates two retired community committee leaders, enhancing its ability to connect with citizens and understand grassroots legal needs. This strategic combination of legal acumen and community insight aims to both address immediate disputes and foster broader public legal awareness.
This initiative marks a significant evolution in China’s approach to judicial resource utilization and community governance, representing a novel model for engaging retired professionals in social conflict prevention and the promotion of rule-of-law principles at the grassroots level.