Lay judge system starts amid doubts

TITLE        Lay judge system starts amid doubts

 

Topic        Many people have expressed reluctance toward serving as citizen judges.

 

Summary

 

The lay judge system has started last Thursday, and the justice minister has already said that modifications may be needed to win understanding from ordinary people.

 

Under the system, six citizen judges are supposed to be involved in trials of serious crimes, such as murder and inflicting injuries resulting in death. The lay judges will not only help in deciding the verdict, but they will also be involved in the sentencing.

 

But many people have expressed reluctance toward serving as citizen judges because they might have to inflict the death penalty on someone.

 

Impressions and Opinions

 

Serving as a lay judge might be tough for ordinary people. They would have to be absent from their jobs. And they might have to watch gruesome pictures of crime scenes.

 

I can understand the ordinary people's feelings. But it might be a good opportunity to understand the trial system. If I'm assigned as a lay judge, I'd take it positively.

 

New Words

 

1 - lay judge system 裁判員制度 2 – inflicting injury 過失致死 3 – 4 – 5 - 6 -

7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 –

 

Discussion Questions (or related statements, or topics for discussion)

 

1 - What do you think about the lay judge system?

2 - Do you want be assigned for lay judge duties?

3 - Could you demand a severe penalty for an accused found guilty of a serious crime?

 

Source: http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200905220075.html