Lay Participation in Criminal Trials in Japan Draws Nigh

The injection of lay participation -- in the form of "assessors" -- into criminal trials in Japan draws nigh; this law reform goes into effect in 2009. The text of the 2004 act -- Act Concerning Participation of Lay Assessors in Criminal Trials (Lay Assessor Act) (Law No. 63 of 2004) -- is available here