Where the road ends, justice begins — the story of Judge Deng Xing
70% of cases held on location, fireside courts, cable cars and mountain trails instead of courtrooms. A judge from the Lisu ethnic group spoke local dialects and brought justice to remote villages where Mandarin is not spoken. A new generation follows his path.
As reported by CCTV+, for over a decade, dedicated judge Deng Xing, a Party member and current director of the enforcement division at the Nujiang Intermediate People's Court, pioneered mobile court hearings and on site mediation, helping expand access to judicial services for residents of remote ethnic minority areas. Deng Xing became an innovator in mobile hearings, bringing judicial services to villages previously isolated by steep mountains and deep gorges.
As a grassroots judge, Deng gained wide recognition from photographs showing him carrying the national emblem across suspension bridges over the rushing Nujiang River. Due to the region's difficult terrain, reaching local residents often meant hours of hiking. "Walking mountain trails, crossing cable cars and climbing steep slopes were routine for us. About 70 percent or more of our cases were heard in mobile court sessions," Deng said. He believes that bringing court proceedings directly to communities helped judges build trust and resolve disputes more effectively. "All people want is for the judge to establish the true facts of the case and rule fairly according to the law," he said.
As a member of the Lisu ethnic group and fluent in local dialects, Deng could communicate with many elderly residents who spoke little or no Mandarin. He encouraged young colleagues to go beyond paperwork and settle disputes on the ground. Plaintiff Zhao Zhigang said: "I am very satisfied with how it was resolved, and the defendant is too." Young judge Wang Wusheng recalled: "He taught us that if a problem cannot be solved on our own, we should report it to the Party committee and the government to help people, rather than just giving them an unenforceable or hollow ruling."
As infrastructure improved, new roads and bridges made court buildings more accessible, but mobile courts remain vital for remote villages. Deng introduced the practice of "fireside courts": "On cold winter days, if people can sit around a fire and talk things through, many disputes are half resolved right there." Local officials note that the value of courts goes beyond individual cases — they provide the legal foundation for community development. A new generation of judges continues the tradition. Young judge He Xiaofang said: "The strong sense of responsibility characteristic of Party members has always inspired us."
Today Deng holds a new position, but his mission remains unchanged: "Whatever position I hold, my duty to serve the people has never changed." Deng's story is part of a CGTN special series marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China on July 1.
The Nujiang River in Yunnan Province flows through deep gorges where many ethnic minorities live. Until recently, many villages were virtually cut off from the outside world. Deng Xing is one of those judges who made justice accessible where roads end. "Fireside court" is not just a metaphor — in the cold mountains, the warmth of the fire creates an atmosphere of trust in which people are willing to speak and listen. His approach is rooted in deep respect for local culture and language. The continuity of generations in the judicial system is testament that his methods still work today.
When a judge carries the national emblem across a suspension bridge rather than into a courtroom, he is not just doing a job. He is telling people: you are not forgotten, your voices are heard, your disputes matter. In a world where justice often seems distant, Deng Xing made it a reality for those living beyond the mountains. His journey is a reminder that the law should not be a privilege of cities. It should be where people need it most. And as young judges follow in his footsteps, that principle remains — no matter what bridge they have to cross.
