Judges have to consider the law and the social effect of judgement in the trial of cases. Judgment causing bad [political] effect will not be described as a good judgment.

That's from page 78 of Yan Jirong's China's Governance, a book that tries to make the PRC's system of laws somehow appear palatable. It is essentially an open admission that law is less important than the political impact of a case.

I never thought I would see the day when I would look back across the PAcific at my homeland and see the same sick mentality there.