In a decisive move toward the first revisions to the Juvenile Law in 50 years, a Justice Ministry panel on Friday approved proposals to revamp juvenile hearing procedures.

One of the ideas endorsed by the Juvenile Law Committee, a subgroup of an advisory panel to the justice minister, is a controversial proposal to allow prosecutors to attend hearings of youths suspected of committing crimes.

There has been mounting public concern that the current system overly protects the rights of young suspects. Friday's decisions by the committee will be directly reflected in a bill the ministry plans to submit to the regular Diet session, which starts January 19.