According to the rules of the Supreme People?s Court, courts at various levels in Shanghai started to use a gavel as required when hearing a case on June 1.
The mahogany gavels made by a designated manufacturer reached the grassroots courts on May 29, allowing three days of training for judges to use them in a standard way.
The gavel is made of quality rosewood with exquisite workmanship. Polished by wax, the gravel is heavy, crimson and smooth. It is different from those for trial use in Beijing earlier that have a unicorn pattern on the top. Instead the new gavel top is inlaid with the copper balance, standing for justice. The trapezoid wooden base sounds deep and sonorous when being knocked.
[新闻晨报[Shanghai Morning Post], translated by Li Liangdu for China.org.cn]
