It's Phony to Summarize Lawsuit in Three Days! -- Protest Against Lay Judge System Before Enactment

About 300 people gathered to protest Japan's lay judge system in the evening of May 20, the day before the system was enacted. The rally held at Tokyo's Hibiya Park proceeded to a march around town involving workers on the way home and unionists who raised colorful banners and panels reading, "We will not allow lay judge system." NHKconducted a nationwide survey this month, which showed 75percent of the people surveyed were concerned about participating in a lawsuit because of heavy responsibility and a lack of confidence in making the right judgment. Demonstrators yelled, "You can't draw a verdict in three days! It's phony if a lawsuit is summarized in three days"and "We will not approve of prison sentence or fine if lay judges leak information to others." (By Y)


３日で終わる裁判なんてインチキ！～裁判員制度実施ひかえ抗議デモ

　裁判員制度の実施を明日に控えた5月20日夜、「現代の赤紙だ」と一貫して導入に反対してきた「裁判員制度はいらない！大運動」が、都心をデモ行進した。仕事帰りの労働者、労組員など、日比谷公園・霞門に集まった約300人の市民は、色とりどりののぼりやプラカードを手に「実施を絶対許さない」と気勢をあげた。NHKは今月、全国の裁判員候補者にアンケート調査を実施。その結果、実に75％の人が、責任の重さや正しい判断への自信のなさを理由に、参加に不安を感じていることが明らかになった。デモでは、「3日で判決は出せないぞー。3日で終わる裁判なんてインチキだー」「人にしゃべったら懲役、断ったら罰金なんてとんでもないぞー」など鋭いシュプレヒコールが続いた。（Y）