Why did Mao Zedong distrust formal legal institutions?

Mao Zedong’s distrust of formal legal institutions stemmed from his belief that law should not possess integrity or authority independent of politics. He viewed law primarily as a political instrument to be used by the Chinese Communist Party to consolidate power and suppress "antagonistic classes" or opponents of the regime.12

Mao’s hostility toward legal expertise and formal institutions intensified as he sought to prevent the "bureaucratic degeneration" of the party. He perceived legally trained personnel and professionals as "reactionary" because their adherence to established procedures and codes conflicted with his vision of continuous revolution. During the Cultural Revolution, this distrust manifested in the dismantling of legal structures, the imprisonment of officials, and the suspension of the national legislature. Ultimately, Mao favored revolutionary committees and party-led mass mobilization over formal legal frameworks, which he believed could hinder the party's ability to maintain control and enforce its revolutionary agenda.31