In less than two years, when a new criminal trial system is introduced, citizens will be obliged to serve as "saibanin," or lay judges. The general public in some 80 countries around the world already plays a role in their nations' judicial systems, such as British- and American-style juries and the European mixed courts. Here are some details of the saibanin system taking effect by May 2009:
What will citizens be expected to do as lay judges?
Under the present system, a judge, or a panel of three judges, presides over criminal trials and decides the facts about an alleged crime based on evidence presented by prosecutors and defense lawyers. If the accused is found guilty, it is up to the judge to determine the sentence.