Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 7, 2015

The massive explosions in Tianjin should challenge the state to take useful steps to improve legality, which would also enhance the legal environment needed for the promised economic reforms. Failure to do so will mean more loss of life and further erosion of government credibility. China can’t afford more Tianjin fireballs.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2015

Because the disaster occurred in one of China’s largest cities, with a population of 15 million, it should provoke a necessary deeper consideration of subpar worker safety conditions throughout Chinese industry.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2015

China’s current nationwide crackdown on “rights defense” (weiquan) lawyers is the strongest assault to date on a small number of pioneers who have struggled to advance the rule of law.… The crackdown increases uncertainty about the future of law reform in China as long as Xi Jinping leads the party-state.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2015

In the midst of turmoil in the Chinese stock markets, one serious problem that may appear is increased currency outflows created by current and potential investors who would rather move their assets to foreign countries viewed as safer havens. Money laundering should be under close surveillance.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2015

Now, not only are human-rights groups being targeted, but a wide range of other organizations hoping to integrate needed social services into Chinese society could be affected. It is not possible at this time to predict how vigorously and selectively the Law will be applied in practice, but the message of increased repression is clear.

Stanley Lubman quoted in The New York Times, May 29, 2015

“The ideology is far thinner and holds the attention of the populace far less powerfully than before,” said Stanley Lubman. … “As a result, the Chinese Communist Party needs more institutional support than before, and may need even more. This helps to explain the attention that law has recently been receiving since Xi came to power.”

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2015

The exodus of judges is a reminder of how urgent and complicated judicial reform is for China. The quality and quantity of the country’s judges has increased dramatically since the 1980s, but a surprising number of them are choosing to leave their positions in Chinese courts due to a combination of heavy caseloads, low professional standards, bad pay and government interference – as well as the growing threat of violence at the hands of angry petitioners.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, April 9, 2015

A month ago, Chinese authorities detained at least 10female activists who were planning to mark International Women’s Day with peaceful demonstrations. Such a contradiction – between harsh, extralegal treatment of political dissent and a vigorous effort to improve the credibility of the courts –increasingly has come to define China’s legal climate under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2015

A key tool for sidestepping weak government enforcement—if it is allowed to function as intended—is the country’s recently amended Environmental Protection Law, which makes is easier for environmental nonprofit groups to bring public-interest lawsuits against polluters.

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2015

What remains unclear is whether Chinese leaders intend to make meaningful changes within that framework to raise the quality of Chinese justice, or are merely paying lip-service to justice as they continue the old patterns of authoritarian control.