Zhang Zhongbin, 53, a judge of the Hubei Higher People's Court, was confirmed dead by suicide on Monday, an announcement by the court said on Tuesday.

Zhang, who was deputy dean of the court, hanged himself in the office at noon on Monday. A preliminary investigation by police ruled out the possibility of foul play, the announcement said.

It added that Zhang had suffered from an illness and had been taking medicines for a long time.

Zhou Jiaxin in Beijing contributed to this story.