Washington, D.C. — The lawyer representing Falun Gong practitioners in a lawsuit against Jiang Zemin submitted legal documents for the case to the U.S. Supreme Court in mid-February. The document is a reply to the decision last September by the Court of Appeals dismissing the case.

It is anticipated that the U.S. Department of Justice will respond in March, after which the Supreme Court would decide within two months if a hearing will be re-convened for the case.

The Court of Appeals dismissed the case on Sept. 12. Dr. Terri Marsh, representing the plaintiffs, said that in the ruling, Jiang was regarded as the nation’s president, rather than the former president, as was the case, prompting her submission of the case to the Supreme Court.

"Taking the case through several levels of the U.S. court system has raised awareness of the genocide and torture that Jiang has promoted against Falun Gong practitioners, bringing the case to landmark status," said Dr. Marsh. "This was the first lawsuit filed against Jiang, and it has set off a worldwide chain-reaction of lawsuits. There are now more than 30 lawyers working together to sue Jiang." Dr. Marsh said that this is the first time so many lawyers have coordinated to sue the same person.

Dr. Terri Marsh, the lawyer representing Falun Gong practitioners in a lawsuit against former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, submitted legal documents to the U.S. Supreme Court in February. (The Epoch Times)

Dr. Marsh has said that the lawsuit has had a strong in effect China. Many who worked in the various departments or organizations that participated in the persecution have either left the organizations, are no longer active participants or had previously not stopped to examine their actions. The plaintiffs expect that all who participated in the persecution of Falun Gong will be brought to justice.

Dr. Marsh said that this case touches both U.S. and Chinese interests. The U.S Declaration of Independence’s assertion of all individuals’ inalienable right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is an example for the world, and it is therefore natural that the United States would take action to protect people against the crimes of genocide and torture committed by Jiang.

Dr. Marsh noted also that China should not be equated with the Chinese Communist Party, which has used state media in an all-encompassing propaganda campaign to keep the Chinese people deceived. The people of China, she said, with their many centuries of culture and reputation as a great spiritual and moral power, would not have promoted the Cultural Revolution, the Tiananmen Square Massacre or the persecution of Falun Gong.