This must be the third time this summer I’ve read something about how judges should move cases along, either because of full dockets, because a lot of contentious litigation does not comport well with the notion of the Harmonious Society, etc.

A senior Chinese official Wednesday called on the country’s courts and law enforcement organs to step up their efforts in cleaning up long-delayed lawsuits.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a national teleconference on cleaning up long-delayed lawsuits. (Xinhua)

Nothing wrong with this in general, but as I’ve said before, this often translates to judges unduly pushing litigants for settlements. Mediation and reasonable settlements are great, but sometimes you need to go to trial, and often you need to go all the way to judgment. This sort of policy, depending on how it’s interpreted, can get in the way.