Title

Deliberative Democracy and the Emerging Jury System in Japan: A Natural Combination or Two Ships Passing in the Night?

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In May, 2009 Japanese citizens, for the first time in over 60 years, will have right to help decide serious criminal cases by being a part of a petit quasi-jury, or Saiban-in Seido. This major reform will have many effects on Japan and Japanese government. One of its most interesting potential effects, however, will be to see, in light of deliberative democracy theory, what kind of effect, if any, will Japan’s new criminal jury system have on Japan’s democratic government?

Date of Authorship for this Version

January 2009

Keywords

Japan, Juries, Deliberative democracy