International human rights groups say China executes 4,000 to 10,000 people every year.
"Sometimes people are given the death penalty without serious consideration of their crimes," says Zhang, who favors reducing the number of crimes punishable by death.
Asked whether he had ever won a politically sensitive case in his 50 years as a defense lawyer, Zhang paused, then replied. "No, not one." But he had not given up. "The court's verdict is not the final result. History will be the judge."
Zhang keeps pushing for legal reform.
"Lawyers should be practical as well as idealistic, but everyone should do their best to increase the independence of the legal system. No one can stop the big international trend and that trend is democracy," he said.
This year he was among a group of retired senior cadres who wrote an open letter attacking the propaganda department and calling for an end to censorship. Part of their motivation is to avoid a repeat of the past.
"Relationships changed as a result of the Cultural Revolution. The moral level of our country declined. If you want to talk about mistakes made by Mao, this was one of them," said Zhang, before pausing again. "I am too frank. That is why I usually deny interviews."
Is it not better that such things are in the open?
"Yes, this should be talked about. But nowadays, it is not easy to tell the truth," he said.
That is not the only reason why he thinks there is never likely to be justice for victims of the Cultural Revolution.
"There are so many perpetrators it will never be possible to track them down. How can compensation be paid? So many bad things happened," he said.
The Cultural Revolution at a glance
● Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966 by calling for a life-or-death struggle against bourgeois ideology. It allowed him to reassert authority over rivals who criticized his handling of the economy.
● Student Red Guards, who worshipped Mao, led the persecution of "class enemies." They were urged on by the ultra-leftist "Gang of Four."
● Thousands died in battles between political factions or killed themselves after public humiliations. The best known victim was Lin Biao (林彪), the head of the army, who died in a plane crash after an attempted coup in 1971.
● Ancient treasures and temples were destroyed after Mao called for the eradication of feudal values. The turmoil ended with his death in 1976.
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