类案检索的运行方式及其完善——以《关于统一法律适用加强类案检索的指导意见(试行)》为分析对象

Reflections on How to Search Similar Cases——An Instance of“Guiding Opinions on the Strengthening Similar-Case Search for the Unification of Law Application”

信息传播速度的加快对法律统一适用提出了更高要求,法官在面对疑难案件时需要借助于其他类案的经验与智慧才能满足这一要求,在人工智能的推动之下,类案检索机制应运而生。《关于统一法律适用加强类案检索的指导意见(试行)》就是最高人民法院针对该机制的第一个专门文件,规定了类案检索的基本运行方式,其核心内容包括检索对象、检索主体和检索方法等,这些核心规定仍然需要进一步完善。具体而言,针对检索对象——有效类案的认定标准,该指导意见关注了多元的实体标准,由于不存在完全相同案件,通过司法程序的运行也能够为认定类案提供重要帮助。就检索主体来说,虽然法官按照规定处于明显的优势地位,但是也存在着激励不足的隐患;充分发挥诉讼参与人(当事人及律师)在类案检索方面的积极性是更值得重视的途径。就具体检索方法来说,前述指导意见提供的主要搜索方法各有内在缺陷,需要承办法官灵活运用,地方法院还可以向律师开放更高检索权限,以有效扩大检索范围;初步确定检索范围之后,法官应依据特定的优先标准对检索结果进行排序。类案检索的指导意见总体上比较稳妥和保守,反映了最高人民法院对司法裁判引入人工智能仍然持有相对谨慎的态度。

The accelerating spreading of information sets higher standards for the unified application of law.Judges will have to make use of their experiences and wisdom in similar cases to meet the requirement,similar-case search mechanism promoted by artificial intelligence thus coming into being."Guiding Opinions on the Strengthening Similar-Case Search for the Unification of Law Application"is the first documents released by supreme people’s court for the basic principles of similar-case searches,it basically covering search objects,subjects and methods,which is to be further improved."Guiding Opinions"focuses on concrete plural standards for the recognizing standards of search objects-effective similar cases.Due to the lack of exact cases,we can also recognize similar cases through the operation of judicial processes.As to the search subjects,the judge who is at an obvious advantage is faced with the problem of insufficient motivations.Litigant participants(litigants and lawyers)are to play a more active role in this area.As to the operation of similar-case search,"Guiding Opinions"has offered some detailed means,but with their own disadvantages and thus to be flexibly used by the undertaking judge;local courts should give the lawyers more search power to effectively expand the sphere of similar-case search.When search sphere is roughly defined,the judge should sort the results according to particular priority standards."Guiding Opinions"is relatively stable and conservative,reflecting the caution of the Supreme People’s Court against the introduction of AI in judicial judgement.