Court wisely distances itself from public opinion

A local court in Shanghai has upheld the death sentence handed down to Lin Senhao in connection to a fatal poisoning case in April, 2013. Lin, a former master's student at Shanghai-based Fudan University, put drops of a toxic chemical in the dormitory's water cooler, which led to the death of his roommate. Lin insisted it was only an April Fool's Day prank. Last February, he was sentenced to death after his first trial.

Despite debate in recent years among the Chinese public over the need to abolish capital punishment, most people have expressed support for the court ruling on social networks. But it is believed that the court decision is based on facts and evidence, rather than public opinion.

China is still in the initial stage of establishing the rule of law. People's growing sense of and enthusiastic participation in political affairs, together with the popularity of social networks, make them both observers of and commenters on legal cases.

Recent years have witnessed hot discussions over some high-profile cases. When Li Tianyi, the son of two famous army singers, was involved in a gang rape case in 2013, a tide of public anger over the behavior of children of elite families was unleashed, and the public called for harsh penalties for this teenager. He was finally sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In another case in 2011, however, the public demanded a lighter punishment for Xia Junfeng, a street vendor who murdered two urban management officials during a conflict in 2009, as many thought his behavior was brave and challenged the authority of urban management officials who don't always have a positive image in people's mind. Despite this, he was sentenced to death.

When Lin was sentenced to death after his first trial, a group of 177 students from Fudan University submitted a petition to the court, asking it not to give Lin the death penalty, at least not immediately.

Court decisions in past cases, no matter whether they were in line with public will or against it, have heightened people's enthusiasm to push forward the country's legal system. When public opinion challenges a court ruling, it shows there's a lack of consensus on certain issues in China. But this also serves as an opportunity for the law to establish authority. At the current stage, respecting court decisions and detaching the judiciary from public opinion is an important step for China to boost the rule of law.