Juries in Japan
In Japan, when people have to go to court, there is something called a "jury" that helps decide whether they are guilty or not guilty. A jury is a group of people who listen to everything that happened in the case and then talk about it together to make a decision.
To become a jury member in Japan, you have to be over 20 years old and able to understand the Japanese language. When there is a case that needs a jury, the court randomly selects people from the community to be on the jury. These people are called "lay judges." The court chooses six people to be on the jury for criminal cases, and three people for civil cases.
During the trial, the jury listens to what happened and then talks about it to decide if the person being accused is "innocent" or "guilty." The jury decides the verdict, but the judge will decide on the punishment if the person is found guilty.
In Japan, there are not as many jury trials as in other countries because the judicial system is different. The court system primarily relies on the judges instead of the jury. But having a jury system in place helps ensure that citizens are actively involved in the judicial process and can contribute to fair and just outcomes.
To become a jury member in Japan, you have to be over 20 years old and able to understand the Japanese language. When there is a case that needs a jury, the court randomly selects people from the community to be on the jury. These people are called "lay judges." The court chooses six people to be on the jury for criminal cases, and three people for civil cases.
During the trial, the jury listens to what happened and then talks about it to decide if the person being accused is "innocent" or "guilty." The jury decides the verdict, but the judge will decide on the punishment if the person is found guilty.
In Japan, there are not as many jury trials as in other countries because the judicial system is different. The court system primarily relies on the judges instead of the jury. But having a jury system in place helps ensure that citizens are actively involved in the judicial process and can contribute to fair and just outcomes.