Lay judges in Japan
This product was added due to formal or content, deficiencies in quality assurance to improve law. This is done to bring the quality of articles from the topic entitled to an acceptable level. Help us to eliminate the substantive shortcomings of this article and take part you in the discussion! ( ) Reason: The patchy block is now long gone here, and there are on the talk page a few interesting objections. Since professionals have ran. - Katakana Peter (Talk ) 13:31, May 9, 2012 ( UTC)
Saiban - in Seido (Japanese裁判员 制度) denotes the aldermen system of Japanese law.
Precursor Baishin -sei
A jury system (陪审 制, Baishin -sei ) was first introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Hara Takashi with the law Baishin - hō (陪审 法) of 18 April 1923. This system was not used very often at this time, partly because the accused may waive the right to a jury (陪审员, baishin -in). The system has not been applied since 1943, beginning later probably because it suits to traditional Japanese legal concepts not particularly good because of the 2nd World War.
New Law
On 28 May 2004 the Japanese Parliament passed the Saiban -in- hō (裁判员 法) that allows the citizens to participate in criminal court negotiations to certain serious crimes and to make decisions about the guilt and the punishment together with professional judges. The aldermen (裁判员, Saiban -in) will be selected at random from the electoral register.
In most cases, the court consists of six Saiban -in, and three professional judges. In (the one in Japan relatively frequent ) cases where there are no significant differences of opinion on the question of guilt, the court consists of four Saiban -in and one professional judge. In contrast to the old law, the defendant can not waive a method by Saiban - in.
The Saiban - in Seido is applied since 21 May 2009. After a month, 134 people were charged under the new system and expected their procedures. The first trials are to begin in August 2009.
Opponents of the new law are afraid of is that the jurors might feel compelled under the pressure of public opinion to impose death sentences more frequently.