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  as_the_crow_flies at 08:22 AM JST - 5th August

  not sure what ‘‘common sentiment’’ is supposed to be.

  The six lay jurors—five women and one man—were picked Monday from among randomly selected eligible voters to try a murder case stemming from a quarrel between neighbors with three professional judges.

  I thought most judges were too busy with little mirrors on station staircases to get into brawls with their neighbours.

  Defense lawyers, however, showed dissatisfaction with the development, telling a press conference following the adjournment Tuesday they wanted to see more what the citizen jurors feel and think about the court proceedings.

  There were also some periods of time when the professional judges left the courtroom along with the lay jurors for what they called ‘‘arrangements.’’

  As long as the judges are "arranging" stuff behind the scenes, we're not going to see much of what jurors feel might and think.

  By the way, the article talks of "citizen jurors", "lay jurors" and "professional judges". In Japan are there also professional jurors and lay judges? I thought jurors are by definition, lay, and judges by definition, pros. Can someone set me straight?

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  Himajin at 08:31 AM JST - 5th August

  I think that's--

  The six lay jurors—five women and one man—were picked Monday from among randomly selected eligible voters, to try a murder case stemming from a quarrel between neighbors, with three professional judges

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  malfupete at 08:33 AM JST - 5th August

  Is this new system for real? I thought the role of the jurors was to listen to the facts and make a decision, not question the accused as that is the realm of lawyers.

  if this case is any indication of how things will progress, i.e only 1 question being asked by a juror, this system is broken already

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  sfjp330 at 08:49 AM JST - 5th August

  This article states "None of the six lay jurors had questioned any of the three witnesses throughout the first day" Why would a jurors required or have options to ask questions to the witnesses in Japan? I thought this is responsibility applies only to procecutor and defense attorney. This really doesn't make sense. In a U.S. jury system, the 12 jury members plus one alternate are not allowed to ask questions to witness throughout the trial, you just listen to all the facts, evidence and take notes until the trial is complete. The jury members are kept separate because of possible tampering with the witness. They vote by jury at the conclusion of the trial in a separate small room, and later, leader of the jury forwards the result to Judge.

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  chotto at 08:56 AM JST - 5th August

  Lay juror poses 1st question at trial, while others stay quiet

  Imagine that!!

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  Potsu at 09:06 AM JST - 5th August

  "common sentiment" only works in a mature democracy,not in childland.

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  jinjapan at 09:10 AM JST - 5th August

  if they are waiting for the jurors to ask questions they will be waiting a looooong time. if anyone has ever taught in a japanese class, then you know they do not ask questions. they are not taught how to question others or how to debate. just sit in class & listen to the teacher, lecturer or whomever else happens to be speaking at the time. so, when people ask why the jurors aren't asking questions just point to the schooling system here in nippon.

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  jinjapan at 09:12 AM JST - 5th August

  to sfjp330,

  this is a different system here compared to the states, hence the questioning by the jurors. the jurors here will also decide the sentence, which also does not happen in other countries.

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  GW at 09:13 AM JST - 5th August

  Talk about theatre of the ABSURD!!!

  Common sentiments, arrangements, defense lawyers ticked because jurors(and to those above its common knowledge they are allowed to ask questions). And a"trial" where the defendant is already guilty, they just have to determine the sentence.........what the...

  Totally insane

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  smartacus at 09:18 AM JST - 5th August

  I wonder if the six lay jurors and the defendant also bowed at each other and said "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

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  Den Den at 09:52 AM JST - 5th August

  To start such a system, they should start with a lower level crime. Kind of help the shy citizens warm into it as this is a serious step.

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  NYC_Samurai at 10:38 AM JST - 5th August

  GW and Potsu summed it up. This half baked system is laughable at best. Unless of course you somehow wind up as a defendant.

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  Triumvere at 10:43 AM JST - 5th August

  Is it just me, or does this jury system not make any sense at all?

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  timorborder at 10:44 AM JST - 5th August

  Sounds like doing marketing research in Japan. You go to all the trouble of recruiting 8 individuals to discuss a topic and they sit around like zombies for 2 hours. Moreover, the moderator literally has to put a gun to their head to get any form of response.

  On another level, I cannot wait for this earth-shattering event to be made into a movie.

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  sakurasuki at 10:53 AM JST - 5th August

  If they gave wrong verdict the suspect and somehow sometime in the future they are new evidence that support the suspect, will they gather again and give apologize?

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