Article 121 In all cases, judgments shall be pronounced publicly.
+ w' J" y( {9 l/ w, u2 _ If the judgment on a case is pronounced in court, a written judgment shall be delivered within five days to the parties and the people's procuratorate that initiated the public prosecution. In cases where the judgment is pronounced later on a fixed date, the written judgment shall be delivered immediately after the pronouncement to the parties and the people's procuratorate that initiated the public prosecution.
' V1 ]/ u+ _; i, d' O7 C Article 122 The written judgment shall be signed by the members of the collegial panel and by the court clerk, and the time limit for appeal and the name of the appellate court shall be clearly indicated therein., q0 }/ ]% M- o# |
Article 123 A hearing may be postponed if during a trial one of the following circumstances affecting the conduct of a trial occurs:4 T6 B$ Y/ r9 N1 X1 k2 j& ]
(1) if it is necessary to summon new witnesses, collect new material evidence, make a new expert evaluation or hold another inquest;
. a, ]: S& D5 z# r (2) if members of the procuratorial personnel find that a case for which public prosecution has been initiated requires supplementary investigation, and they make a proposal to that effect;
7 v, ] {' J: Z6 B+ W% m (3) if the collegial panel considers the evidence of a case insufficient or discovers new facts, requiring it to either remand the case to the people's procuratorate for supplementary investigation or conduct its own inquiry; or* n g- N5 _6 B+ L% Y, }% i7 t9 S B
(4) if the trial cannot proceed because a party applies for the withdrawal of a judicial functionary.
- Y( B9 J( ~+ [4 [ Article 124 The court clerk shall make a written record of the entire court proceedings, which shall be examined by the presiding judge and then signed by him and the court clerk.
2 @# i4 Z3 F8 q( _$ f That portion of the courtroom record comprising the testimony of witnesses shall be read out in court or given to the witnesses to read. After the witnesses acknowledge that the record is free of error, they shall sign or affix their seals to it.
- q0 x9 h# y7 k2 |6 u9 E+ L The courtroom record shall be given to the parties to read or shall be read out to them. If a party considers that there are omissions or errors in the record, he may request additions or corrections to be made. After the parties acknowledge that the record is free of error, they shall sign or affix their seals to it.
, c, z0 |& s; v& B) v Article 125 A people's court shall pronounce judgment on a case of public prosecution within one month or, one and a half months at the latest, after accepting it for trial.
% t0 x" ?+ e% f1 b' B, `2 {$ X4 _ Section 2 Cases of Private Prosecution
|+ S8 Z6 m1 i y5 Z Article 126 After examining a case of private prosecution, the people's court may handle it according to the conditions set forth below.) [' `7 g; Q1 e0 _5 O& {
(1) If the facts of the crime are clear and the evidence sufficient, the case shall be tried at a court session.& N2 G! |) i" Q3 V/ a, e: Y; y
(2) If the case requires public prosecution by a people's procuratorate, it shall be transferred to a people's procuratorate.
) F) l( C+ i& \. Y' | (3) In a case of private prosecution where criminal evidence is lacking, if the private prosecutor fails to present supplementary evidence and the people's court is unable to obtain the necessary evidence through investigation, the court shall persuade the private prosecutor to withdraw his prosecution or order its rejection.! G9 r x ] t0 l4 Z) J/ G' g
(4) If the defendant's act does not constitute a crime, the people's court shall persuade the private prosecutor to with draw his prosecution or order its rejection.
+ `5 V$ q* z: j Article 127 A people's court may conduct mediation in a case of private prosecution; the private prosecutor may arrange a settlement with the defendant or withdraw his prosecution before a judgment is pronounced.+ F3 n* E: h' `
Article 128 In the process of the proceedings, the defendant in a case of private prosecution may raise a counterclaim against the private prosecutor. The provisions governing private prosecutions shall apply to counterclaims.; d: D# d; x' u7 T* c) W1 }5 @0 i
Chapter III Procedure of Second Instance$ I7 C' T" r( K! o
Article 129 If a party or his legal representative refuses to accept a judgment or order of first instance of a local people's court at any level, he shall have the right to appeal in writing or orally to the people's court at the next higher level. Defenders or a defendant's near relatives may file appeals with the consent of the defendant. |