On March 3rd, the 54th lecture of the BNU Legal Practice Lecture Series, titled "Prosecutors' Practice of Public Prosecution in Court", was successfully held in the lecture hall of the Electronic Building of Beijing Normal University. This lecture was given by Zhang Ting, Deputy Director of the Second Procuratorial Department of the Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate, and hosted by Shang Haowen, Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of the Law School of Beijing Normal University. More than 130 teachers and students attended the lecture.

This lecture is an important part of the course "Procuratorial Practice". To further implement Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law, promote a positive interaction between legal education and prosecutorial practice, jointly implement the strategies of revitalizing the country through science and education and strengthening the nation through talent in the new era, and advance the cultivation of high-quality legal talents, the Law School of Beijing Normal University has launched a "Prosecutorial Practice" course in the spring of 2024, which will be lectured by experts with practical experience from the prosecutorial system. The course of "Procuratorial Practice" is based on the actual situation of prosecutorial work, focusing on the latest fields and achievements of prosecutorial reform, teaching students new concepts and practices of prosecutorial work in the new era, and laying a professional development foundation for law students who are interested in engaging in prosecutorial work and other judicial practices.

Prosecutor Zhang Ting brings to the bench a formidable 21 years of experience in criminal prosecution, having amassed a wealth of expertise across various levels of the procuratorial system, including district-level procuratorates, branch offices, and municipal-level procuratorates. Her distinguished service has earned her the prestigious title of Top Ten Public Prosecutors in Beijing on two occasions, and she has been recognized with a third-class merit award three times. Additionally, Prosecutor Zhang has been bestowed with esteemed honors such as the National Serious Crime Prosecutor Talent and the Capital Model Prosecutor Cadre.

Throughout the lecture, Prosecutor Zhang Ting underscored that the act of appearing in court to present a prosecution is the most tangible exercise of the procuratorial authority's power to prosecute. She noted that the challenges faced by prosecutors in court are on the rise, and there is an increasing demand for the highest standards of quality from prosecutors appearing in court. Consequently, for students aspiring to enter prosecutorial work, gaining a profound understanding and proficient grasp of the practical aspects of the trial process is of paramount importance.

Following her introduction, Prosecutor Zhang Ting meticulously delineated the comprehensive process of a prosecutor's court appearance and the intricate issues associated with it, focusing on four key dimensions: "the objectives and responsibilities of a prosecutor's court appearance," "the fundamental principles guiding a prosecutor's court appearance," "challenges that may arise during the trial," and "common focal points of debate in court trials." She illustrated these points with reference to notable cases, providing a practical context. For instance, addressing common courtroom debate issues such as "the defense's contention that the valuation of the property in question is inaccurate due to the absence of a signature from the determining personnel, and their subsequent request for a new valuation," as well as "the defendant's argument that legal opinions from experts and scholars invalidate the prosecutor's charges," Prosecutor Zhang Ting offered insights into the procuratorial practices and rationale from the perspectives of criminal law and criminal procedural law theory.

During the interactive session with the attendees, students actively engaged in the conversation, delving into profound discussions and exchanges with Prosecutor Zhang Ting on topics including the psychological journey of prosecutors as they navigate cases. This lecture not only imparted to the students a vivid and nuanced understanding of the practical aspects of a prosecutor's role in court but also offered them a fresh perspective on integrating criminal law theory with the realities of legal practice.