Table of Contents

Contents: 1. Welcoming Citizen Participation into Japan’s Justice System 2. The Great Debate: Introducing a Lay Judge System 3. Advancement of the Lay Judge System and Ongoing Challenges 4. Reforms Related to the Lay Judge System 5. Overcoming Challenges Facing the System 6. Expanding Lay Participation into the Civil Realm 7. Citizen Participation in Civil Trials can be Beneficial as Demonstrated by the Experiences of Other Countries 8. Global Proliferation of Lay Participation In Justice Systems 9. Civil Jury Trials in Okinawa – Local Illustration 10. Civil Lay Participation and State-Corporate Liability 11. Final Thoughts and Necessary Preparations Index

About the Author

Matthew J. Wilson, Dean and Professor of Law, University of Akron School of Law, US, Hiroshi Fukurai, Professor of Sociology & Legal Studies, University of California at Santa Cruz, US and Takashi Maruta, Professor of Law, Kwansei Gakuin University Law School, Japan

Reviews

‘The recent development of lay participation is one of the most significant reforms in Japanese legal history. This volume makes a strong case for its extension to civil juries and beyond. Powerfully argued, and making skillful use of comparative evidence, these three leading scholars have produced a volume that will shape the debate for years to come.’
*Tom Ginsburg, The University of Chicago Law School, US*

“The jury system continues to grow in popularity across the globe, and this book takes us inside the emergence of civil juries in Japan. The author provides rich detail but also recognizes the limitations of the current system. Anyone interested in understanding the challenges and promise of adopting new jury systems can learn much from this careful study, which weaves together historical, legal, and social scientific analyses.’
*John Gastil, lead author of The Jury and Democracy, Director, McCourtney Institute for Democracy, Penn State University, US*

‘This book is a lucid and engaging account of the development and functioning of Japan’s system of lay participation in criminal trials, but equally, and perhaps more important, the authors provide solid arguments for the expansion of lay participation in Japanese civil disputes, and they outline how such a system might be developed. The book will also be useful for scholars and practitioners in other Asian countries interested in developing lay participation in their legal systems.’
*Neil Vidmar, Duke University, School of Law, US*