紧跟指导案例，开启类案检索之路
Embarking on the Road of Similar Cases As Guided.
紧跟指导案例，开启类案检索之路
Synopsis
概述
Laws record not only rules but also stories happened in the past millions of cases. Like people learning from masters in history, cases may rest their reasoning on past precedents. If you travel to the Supreme Court of the UK, you will be introduced of the case precedent system long from history, and you cannot help wonder how Chinese guiding case system may work similarly. Now we luckily see the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) of China opine on this unprecedented trail of similar cases to be dealt similarly by searching of similar cases in various circumstances.
法律的有迹可循，不仅体现在法律规则中，也体现在过往千万件案件的故事里。就像人们向历史上的伟人学习，我们也可以从过去的判例中找到相似的法律论证。如果你去英国的最高法院，你将会了解到英国悠久的判例制度，也会不禁思考中国的指导案例制度如何可以相似的方式运作。如今，我们幸运地看到了中国最高人民法院的意见，其针对不同情形指引了可以进行的类案检索，实属创举。
The SPC required the lower courts to search similar cases in the past three years in the order of sequence from SPC’s guiding cases to the trial court’s own precedent cases in China. This important set of Opinions will expect to change the reasoning landscape of Chinese judgments and rulings in the future. New challenges to the parties in litigation and arbitration will surely help increase the professional value of practicing lawyers and the stability and predictability of dispute resolution in China, through the vast support of the legal profession.
最高人民法院要求下级法院检索近三年的类案，并根据从最高院的指导性案例到本院案例的不同顺序进行检索。这份重要意见的出台将会改变未来中国案件判决与裁定中法律论证的模式。诉讼与仲裁中的当事人将会面临新的挑战，然当事人将会获得法律行业的广泛支持。这将帮助提高执业律师的职业价值，给中国争议解决行业增添稳定性和可预测性。
The Opinions are set out below in both Chinese and English for the readers. The translation is intended for your reference only.
以下为该意见的中英双语版本，英文翻译仅供参考。
最高人民法院关于统一法律适用加强类案检索的指导意见（试行）
Guiding Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on Unifying Applications of Law and Strengthening Search of Similar Cases
(for Trial Implementation)
为统一法律适用，提升司法公信力，结合审判工作实际，就人民法院类案检索工作提出如下意见。
To unify law applications and enhance judicial credibility, the following Opinions are hereby issued for people’s courts’ search of similar cases, on the basis of the actual demands of trial work:
一、本意见所称类案，是指与待决案件在基本事实、争议焦点、法律适用问题等方面具有相似性，且已经人民法院裁判生效的案件。
Similar cases as referred to in these Opinions mean cases that are similar to the pending cases in terms of basic facts, focal disputes, the application of law etc., and that have been adjudicated by the people’s courts and have become legally effective.
二、人民法院办理案件具有下列情形之一，应当进行类案检索：
（一）拟提交专业（主审）法官会议或者审判委员会讨论的；
（二）缺乏明确裁判规则或者尚未形成统一裁判规则的；
（三）院长、庭长根据审判监督管理权限要求进行类案检索的；
（四）其他需要进行类案检索的。
A people’s court shall search similarcases under any of the following circumstances:
1. wherethe case is proposed to be submitted to the professional (presiding) judges’meeting or the adjudicationcommittee for discussion;
2. thereare no explicit adjudicative rules or there have been no unified adjudicativerules;
3. thepresident or the division chief judge requires search of similar cases accordingto trial supervision and management authority;
4. othercases where search of similar cases is required.
三、承办法官依托中国裁判文书网、审判案例数据库等进行类案检索，并对检索的真实性、准确性负责。
Judges who handle the cases shall search similar cases through China Judgments Online, Database of Chinese Trial Cases, etc., and shall be responsible for the authenticity and accuracy of the searches.
四、类案检索范围一般包括：
（一）最高人民法院发布的指导性案例；
（二）最高人民法院发布的典型案例及裁判生效的案件；
（三）本省（自治区、直辖市）高级人民法院发布的参考性案例及裁判生效的案件；
（四）上一级人民法院及本院裁判生效的案件。
除指导性案例以外，优先检索近三年的案例或者案件；已经在前一顺位中检索到类案的，可以不再进行检索。
The scope of search of similar cases generally includes:
1. guiding cases issued by the Supreme People’s Court;
2. typical precedents and cases involving effective judgements and rulings issued by the Supreme People’s Court;
3. case precedents for reference and cases involving judgments and rulings issued by the higher people’s courts of the same province (the autonomous region or the municipality directly under the Central Government);
4. cases involving judgments and rulings issued by the people’s courts at the next higher level or by the court itself.
Except for the guiding cases, priority shall be given to precedents or similar cases of the last three years. Where similar cases have been found in the previous order of sequence, no further search may be needed.
五、类案检索可以采用关键词检索、法条关联案件检索、案例关联检索等方法。
The search of similar cases could be conducted by using such methods as keyword search, law provision and related case search, case correlation search, etc.
六、承办法官应当将待决案件与检索结果进行相似性识别和比对，确定是否属于类案。
In deciding whether the pending cases and the search results belong to similar cases, judges who handle the cases shall conduct similarity identification and comparison.
七、对本意见规定的应当进行类案检索的案件，承办法官应当在合议庭评议、专业（主审）法官会议讨论及审理报告中对类案检索情况予以说明，或者制作专门的类案检索报告，并随案归档备查。
As to the cases where a search of similar cases is conducted in accordance with these Opinions, the handling judge shall explain the result of the search in the collegial bench’s deliberation, professional (presiding) judges’ meeting and hearing reports, or compile a specialized report of the search, and file with the case file for reference.
八、类案检索说明或者报告应当客观、全面、准确，包括检索主体、时间、平台、方法、结果，类案裁判要点以及待决案件争议焦点等内容，并对是否参照或者参考类案等结果运用情况予以分析说明。
The explanation or report of the search of similar cases should be objective, comprehensive and accurate, including the subjects of search, time, platforms, methods, results, the key points of judgements of similar cases uncovered and the focal disputes of the pending cases, and clarify whether conclusions are made by analogy with or reference to the similar cases.
九、检索到的类案为指导性案例的，人民法院应当参照作出裁判，但与新的法律、行政法规、司法解释相冲突或者为新的指导性案例所取代的除外。
检索到其他类案的，人民法院可以作为作出裁判的参考。
Where a retrieved similar case is a guiding case, the people’s court shall apply it mutatis mutandis in decision making, except for cases that conflict with new laws, administrative regulations or judicial interpretations or have been replaced by new guiding cases.
The people’s court may refer to other types of similar cases in making its decisions if other types of similar cases are retrieved.
十、公诉机关、案件当事人及其辩护人、诉讼代理人等提交指导性案例作为控（诉）辩理由的，人民法院应当在裁判文书说理中回应是否参照并说明理由；提交其他类案作为控（诉）辩理由的，人民法院可以通过释明等方式予以回应。
Where a public prosecution authority, a party to a case, or a defender or litigation representative thereof presents a guiding case as the ground for prosecution (or defense), the people’s court shall respond in the reasoning of the judgment as to whether the guiding case has been referred to, and explain the reasons.
Where other types of cases are submitted as grounds for prosecution (or defense), the people’s court may respond by clarification or other means.
十一、检索到的类案存在法律适用不一致的，人民法院可以综合法院层级、裁判时间、是否经审判委员会讨论等因素，依照《最高人民法院关于建立法律适用分歧解决机制的实施办法》等规定，通过法律适用分歧解决机制予以解决。
Where there is inconsistency in the application of law between the pending case and the retrieved similar cases, the people’s court may, in accordance with factors such as the level of the court, the time of the judgement, and whether or not it has been discussed by the adjudication committee, proceed to resolve the differences through a mechanism for resolving differences in the application of laws in accordance with Notice by the Supreme People’s Court of Issuing the Implementation Measures for Establishing the Mechanism for Resolving Differences in the Application of Laws and other provisions.
十二、各级人民法院应当积极推进类案检索工作，加强技术研发和应用培训，提升类案推送的智能化、精准化水平。
各高级人民法院应当充分运用现代信息技术，建立审判案例数据库，为全国统一、权威的审判案例数据库建设奠定坚实基础。
The people’s courts at various levels shall actively promote the work of search of similar cases, strengthen technical research and development, as well as application training, and improve the level of intelligence and precision in respect of the push of similar cases.
The high people’s courts shall make full use of modern information technology to establish a database of trial cases, so as to lay a solid foundation for the construction of a national unified and authoritative database of trial cases.
十三、各级人民法院应当定期归纳整理类案检索情况，通过一定形式在本院或者辖区法院公开，供法官办案参考，并报上一级人民法院审判管理部门备案。
The people’s courts at various levels shall periodically summarize and sort out similar cases, making them publicly available in their own courts or in the courts of their own jurisdiction in a certain form for the reference of trial judges in handling cases, and submitting them to the trial management department of the people’s courts at a higher level for the record.
十四、本意见自2020年7月31日起试行。
These Opinions shall come into force as of July 31, 2020.
