The Diet passed a set of judicial reform bills Wednesday, including a law that puts a two-year limit on district court trials and legislation that allows court sessions pertaining to family matters to be closed to the public.
The speedy trial bill, the centerpiece of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's judicial reform initiative, was approved by the House of Councilors. The House of Representatives has already passed it.
The Upper House also endorsed an amendment to the civil litigation law and a new family affairs law that allows for closed-door sessions in trials involving family matters such as divorce.