Background
Mr. Cheng was born in Fuzhou, Fujian, China in 1888.
Mr. Cheng was born in Fuzhou, Fujian, China in 1888.
Cheng Lieh studied in Japan for eight years and graduated from the Law School of Tokyo Imperial University.
He assisted in the formation of the Tung-Ming-Hui (predecessor of Kuomintang) in Japan and organized with the late Lin Wen the 14th Branch Headquarters of the organ in Fujian (Fukien). Mr. Cheng participated in the revolutionary uprising in Canton, 1911 and when Mr. Lin fell in the famous historic battle of Huanghuakang (Canton) , he succeeded him as Director of the Fujian (Fukien) Branch Headquarters in September 1911.
Cheng Lieh participated in the Revolution in Fujian (Fukien) and after the overthrow of the Manchu Government officials in that province, he was elected Minister of Justice in Fujian (Fukien) Revolutionary Government. In 1913, he served successively as Department Director in the Ministry of Justice of Peking Government, Director of Judicial Administration Preparatory Bureau, President of a law college, etc.
Mr. Cheng was ordered to be arrested by the Yuan Shih-kai Government for participation in the Second Revolution against Yuan. He was appointed Chief Procurator of Yunnan High Court in 1915. Cheng Lieh transferred as judge and later acting division judge in the High Court of Jiangsu (Kiangsu) since 1916. He went to Canton in 1921 and was appointed by the late Dr. Sun Yat-sen as Division Judge in the Supreme Court and the Administrative Court in Canton Revolutionary Government.
Shortly after, Cheng Lieh was transferred to Kwangsi as President of Kwangsi High Court. In 1922, when the Revolutionary Forces entered Fujian (Fukien), Mr. Cheng was appointed President of the Fujian (Fukien) High Court. He became Chief Procurator of the Supreme Court of the National Government on December 1928.