TOKYO —

The government approved two ordinances Tuesday designating key dates for implementing the jury system next year, completing nearly all legal steps for the system. One of the two ordinances says a law to introduce the system, which will allow ordinary citizens to take part in criminal court procedures for serious crimes such as murder, will go into force May 21 next year. The other says compiling a list of jury candidates will start July 15 this year.
   
Sixty district courts and branches across Japan that plan to introduce the jury system are to notify municipal election management committees of a necessary number of people who are to engage in compiling the list. The committees are to then select candidates and provide their information, such as name, address and date of birth, for the district courts.
 
As the new system will be applied to cases for which indictments are filed on May 21, 2009 or later, the first trial with jurors will be held in late July 2009 at the earliest following pre-trial deliberations between prosecutors, defense lawyers and courts.
   

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3 Comments

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  Desiderata1967 at 03:52 PM JST - 15th April

  It's good that this is coming into being, but let's hope that they have a good mix of people in juries, and not simply old folks with a blatant 'hang 'em by their toenails' attitude.

  Also, let's hope too that in cases involving foreigners, juries won't convict merely because it is a foreigner in the docks. You know it's going to happen at some point!

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  OssanII at 02:45 AM JST - 16th April

  "Also, let's hope too that in cases involving foreigners, juries won't convict merely because it is a foreigner in the docks. You know it's going to happen at some point!"

  I agree. Let's not see anything like that Louisiana jury that aquitted the local redneck who shot the Japanese teenager with a 44 magnum at point blank range.

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  kaimycahl at 05:57 AM JST - 16th April

  YOU guys have it all wrong. The jury system could be a good thing, with people like the comments listed from Osani it would be bad. YOu must have an open mind not a closed one. You have to look at and be able to understand "UNDERSTAND" the evidence presented and you will be judged by your peers people from the community and not one judge deciding a fate.

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