Abstract: In the past few years, to solve the problem of judicial unfairness and low judicial credibility, China has launched a new round of judicial institutional reform around justice, efficiency, and the value of human rights. The reform was first carried out in pilot areas. At the time when the reform is being extended to the whole country, serious reflection on the experience gained in the pilot stage is necessary so as to better facilitate its further deepening. Currently, lack of the top-level implemental plans, low social consensus, grassroots judicial personnel’s inactive attitude, and oversimplified and“Westernized”conception in the process are becoming obstacles in the reform. China’s judicial reform, therefore, must strengthen top-level designs, enhance the social consensus through the establishment of mechanism for idea expression, stimulate grassroots judicial personnel’s enthusiasm in the reform through the establishment of an occupational security system, and unswervingly firmly adhere to its own initiatives.

Key words: rule of law, judicial institutional reform, judicial justice, pilot reform