Legal Turnaround Raises Hopes for Rule of Law

Beijing attorney Li Zhuang continues to serve an 18-month jail sentence for what supporters say was his dutiful decision to defend standard legal procedures in a local courtroom.

Controversy in China's legal community over Li's case spilled over into nationwide debates over attorney rights, courtroom procedures and the legal system in general. It's also attracted foreign observers attentive to China's evolving legal system.