The Lay Judge System introduced this year in Japan is called Jury Service in the United Kingdom. The British Jury Service is the world's oldest system with its original model dating back to 900 years ago. Every year, 180,000 to 200,000 jurors are picked up at random from qualified voters aged 18 to 70. Once they get a notice of appointment to jury service, they cannot flee from the duty unless there is a compelling reason. They are to join a jury panel and work with the members for two weeks or more from the day of summons to deliberate on, in most cases, a criminal case and determine whether the accused is guilty or not, then pass their decision to judges. What is most different from the Lay Judge System in Japan is that the jurors discuss the case behind closed doors in the absence of judges.

    In contrast with Japan where the Lay Judge System has not been much welcomed, many British citizens rejoice at being selected as jurors, saying, "Look! I've got it." Such a sentiment may be hard to understand for Japanese people who are accustomed to leave national affairs to the governments, but British people appear to be happy about being afforded an opportunity to sit in judgment on an evil on behalf of the entire citizens. During the course of deliberation, it happens that jurors fail to agree on the interpretation of assertions made by the plaintiff and defendant and therefore have heated discussion. In such circumstances, debating skills cultivated since the days of primary school mean a lot. Every juror, regardless of social status and educational background, expresses his or her opinion squarely without heeding others' reaction, which is quite surprising to the Japanese who are reluctant to be too much self-assertive and have respect for total accord.

                                               On the other hand, there are some who are happily excited with the juror assignment as they would be away from work for two full weeks, rather than being motivated by the duty. Courts are normally located in the urban area, so they plan shopping and sightseeing to heart's content after the end of the day's work. Employers are obliged to give a necessary leave of absence when their employees are appointed to a jury. The employees are not paid during the period but receive from the government the necessary expenses and an allowance of £30.64 to £61.28 per day (equivalent of 4,350 yen to 8,700 yen at the conversion rate of 142 yen for a pound). Mothers nursing a child get their baby-sitting charges covered.

  Thus, people driven by a sense of duty and people of shrewd and calculating type equally return to workplace with a sort of fulfillment, saying, "It was a worthwhile experience." I wonder if the day ever comes to Japan when the Lay Judge System is firmly established among the citizens in this manner.

Written and Photographed  by Nao Fukuoka