A group who have performed lay judge duties say the courts should provide more information to citizens who serve on the bench to help them make fair and impartial decisions.

They are also urging the government to publicize information on the death penalty to steer public debate as citizen judges have the power to sentence convicted murderers to hang.

These ideas are among a series of recommendations voluntarily compiled by five people who served their civic duty in district courts in Tokyo, Chiba and Miyagi prefectures since the lay judge system was launched in May 2009.