Japan Returns to Jury Trial as Changes to Legal System Now in Place

For more than a half century the outcome of a trial in Japan had been decided by a panel of judges but on Monday the country marked a dramatic shift to its legal system as it opened its first jury trial since 1943. The move was made in an attempt to change a legal system that has been deemed unfair by many.

Prior to the opening of Monday’s jury trial the outcome of criminal court cases had been determined by a panel of judges and with a 99% conviction rate there were many who suspected the process had been extremely flawed.

Marking an end to the old system, six jurors are now working with three judges in a case involving a 72-year-old man charged with killing is neighbor. The jurors at Tokyo District Court will have four days to declare a verdict and for that decision to stand at least one of the three judges must back the ruling.

Japan plans to hold between 2,000 to 3,000 jury trials a year, all dealing with serious crimes including murder and rape.

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