The Tokyo District Court announced Thursday it will now inform lay judge candidates in advance that they may be exposed to gruesome photographs of crime scenes and will allow them to be excused if they fear they could be traumatized.
The Supreme Court said it sent a notice on July 26 to other district courts nationwide advising them to do the same.
Under the new practice, requests by prosecutors to use shocking photos as evidence might be turned down if illustrations or other images can be used instead.