In recent years, legal activities by relevant authorities have frequently drawn public attention. Some legal provisions have sparked controversy after being enacted, such as the recent discussions surrounding the "Public Security Administration Punishment Law." Other cases, like the 2019 "Passion Fruit Girl" assault case in Guangxi and the murder of a family of three in Pengzhou, Sichuan, triggered widespread public dissatisfaction and criticism after appellate court rulings.
Additionally, statements made by legal professionals, including judges, prosecutors, and law professors, during legal awareness campaigns have also faced backlash. For instance, in 2025, a Qingdao court publicized a case where a pedestrian, Wang, turned suddenly on a sidewalk and collided with another pedestrian, Zhang. Wang sued for 180,000 yuan in damages, and the court mediated a settlement of 70,000 yuan, citing Zhang's "failure to maintain a safe distance." This ruling provoked public debate, with many questioning the "safe distance" rationale.
Why does legal education sometimes backfire? Authorities aim to promote legal values and the rule of law by highlighting exemplary cases and progressive legal systems. However, these efforts often fail to achieve the intended effect, instead fueling public skepticism and criticism.
One key issue is the gap between professional legal standards and public expectations. Legal professionals assess cases and laws through a specialized lens, which may diverge from public sentiment. While professional and public standards should align, legal interpretations must resonate with societal norms and common sense.
Another problem is the lack of understanding of public sentiment and real-world social dynamics among legal authorities. Laws and cases stem from societal conflicts, so their application must consider practical impacts. Without this awareness, legal decisions risk deviating from public expectations, leading to disputes.
For example, courts in some regions previously imposed unrealistic standards on self-defense cases, disregarding the chaotic nature of sudden assaults. This resulted in low self-defense recognition rates, discouraging victims from resisting unlawful acts—a harmful message to society.
Internationally, insufficient social knowledge among legal professionals has long hindered justice. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo once noted that judicial errors often stem from ignorance of a ruling's socioeconomic effects. Similarly, Japanese legal scholar Akiyama Kenzō highlighted judges' isolation from everyday life as a cause of wrongful convictions.
Legal education must bridge theory and practice. U.S. judge and scholar Richard Posner criticized the disconnect between academia and legal practice, noting that scholars often overlook systemic judicial flaws.
Achieving justice requires integrating public sentiment into lawmaking and adjudication. Courts must balance legal and social outcomes, address grievances effectively, and ensure rulings align with public perceptions of fairness.
Recent debates over sealing criminal records underscore the need for transparency and responsiveness. Authorities must address public concerns directly, ensuring legal reforms consider societal reactions.
Ultimately, the root issue lies in legal professionals' lack of social awareness. Without it, they risk narrow, technical analyses that alienate public trust. Institutional reforms to enhance their understanding of societal realities are crucial. Otherwise, legal activities will continue to provoke backlash, eroding public faith in the rule of law.
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