the saiban-in jury system is coming to a reluctant Japan
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2007/09/22/the-saiban-in-jury-system-is-coming-to-a-reluctant-japan/
A recent New York Times article gives further details, noting that “In the new system, judges and jurors, with one vote each, will decide cases by a simple majority. Jurors can ask questions in the courtroom, and through their numbers can effectively overrule the judges. Even though all three judges may rule that a defendant is guilty in a case, a not-guilty ruling by at least five of the jurors will prevail. The only exception involves a guilty ruling: even if all six jurors vote guilty, the ruling will not stand unless at least one of the three judges shares that verdict.†This sounds like a major breakthrough for citizen participation in the judicial system, but the Times voices a concern that is also heard throughout Japan:
