Shanghai judges to be scrutinized

Cui Yadong, Party chief of Shanghai High People's Court, vowed to strengthen moral education among judges and strictly supervise their behavior in work and private life this year following a scandal in August in which four court officials were found patronizing prostitutes. The four judges were removed from their posts.

"The incident did great harm to the rule of law in our country and impaired people's trust of judicial impartiality and the image of Shanghai courts," Cui said on Tuesday in remarks to the annual session of the municipality's legislative body.

"We realized the seriousness of problems in the judicial system after the incident and aimed a series of educational efforts at all judicial workers," he said.

The court issued a rule to all judges in the municipality in December, forbidding them from participating in any activity related to pornography, gambling or drugs. They are also banned from nightclubs.