97% of lay judges say trial 'good experience'+

TOKYO, Nov. 17 Kyodo -
The vast majority of people surveyed after taking part in trials earlier this
year as lay judges, some 97.5 percent, think their participation was a ''good
experience,'' the top court said Tuesday, suggesting a smooth start to the lay
judge system introduced in May.

Of the 79 people who responded to questions about their lay judge experience,
64.6 percent said it was a ''very good experience,'' while 32.9 percent said it
was a ''good experience.''
But more than half of the people said they were reluctant to participate when
they were selected as lay judges. The outcome of the survey was part of the
Supreme Court's report to a panel on improving the lay judge system, which met
Tuesday.
The survey was conducted on people involved in 14 trials held at 11 district
courts that gave rulings by the end of September. In addition to the 79 people
who served as lay judges, 30 people who were selected as standbys and 419
others who were lay judge candidates also responded.
While 74.7 percent of the respondents said their trial was easy to understand,
the percentage of those who favored presentations by prosecutors was 19 points
higher than that for defense counsels.
The respondents also showed satisfaction with their deliberations, with 86.1
percent saying there was an atmosphere that allowed them to speak up, and 78.5
percent saying they could thoroughly debate the case.
In the 14 trials, 1,310 people were chosen as lay judge candidates and 52.6
percent of them, or 689, were allowed not to take part.
The new judicial system was introduced in May to allow ordinary people to take
part in deciding sentences together with professional judges, with a view to
bringing trials closer to the general public.
==Kyodo
2009-11-18 00:29:46