Sumário:The judicialization paradigm -- Judicialization in authoritarian systems and Chinese courts -- The Supreme People's Court -- Attemps at judicializing the Chinese Constitution : fundamental rights in courts -- Judicial interpretations : the SPC's self-empowerment to lawmaking -- Guiding cases : aiming at judicial autonomy through professionalization -- Introduction of the SPC's mandatory death penalty review power and further attempts at centralizing the judiciary -- Judicialization through the legislative function of the SPC.