[Answer] What is your view on Luo Xiang’s comment that when one person commits a crime, it should not affect their family members’ eligibility for civil service exams, and that we must not cross the bottom line of “no punishment without guilt”?

[Answer] What is your view on Luo Xiang’s comment that when one person commits a crime, it should not affect their family members’ eligibility for civil service exams, and that we must not cross the bottom line of “no punishment without guilt”?

Luo Xiang’s comment expresses respect for and defense of a fundamental judicial principle: the bottom line of “no punishment without guilt.” This principle is one of the foundations of a modern rule-of-law society. Its purpose is to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms while ensuring the fairness and objectivity of the justice system. If there is no evidence proving that a person is guilty, they should not be punished arbitrarily. This is also a principle recognized both in Chinese law and in widely accepted international standards of justice.

Although family members and close relatives may also be affected in some circumstances, that cannot become a justification for imposing unjust punishment on an innocent person. If someone were allowed to suffer unfair penalties because of a family member’s actions, it would seriously undermine the integrity of justice. Therefore, under any circumstances, judicial authorities must strictly follow the law and judicial principles, and must not violate this bottom-line principle.

In a modern rule-of-law society, judicial fairness and fair trials are among the most basic principles and are essential to safeguarding citizens’ rights and freedoms. In judicial procedure, the presumption of innocence is one of the core guarantees of justice. This principle means that a defendant should be regarded as innocent until proven guilty. It also means that a person can be convicted only when there is sufficient evidence.

By saying that “we must not cross the bottom line of no punishment without guilt,” Luo Xiang highlights the importance of judicial fairness. The implementation of this principle not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of defendants, but also helps prevent social instability and public conflict caused by improper punishment. Therefore, whether in cases involving family members taking civil service exams or in any other situation, judicial authorities should uphold the presumption of innocence and avoid unjust rulings.

Of course, in situations like family members applying for civil service positions, public opinion often exerts tremendous pressure, and judicial authorities also face various difficulties and challenges. In such circumstances, they must remain firm in upholding the presumption of innocence, while strengthening evidence collection and review to ensure fair outcomes. At the same time, more public education is needed to improve legal literacy and awareness, so that people can better understand the importance and necessity of the presumption of innocence and better support the work of the justice system.