Two judges stand next to an installation of Chinese characters meaning “citizen judge” outside the Citizen Judge Court at the Taipei District Court on July 27. Photo: Chang Wen-chuan, Taipei Times

By Wu Cheng-feng and Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The first group of potential citizen judges, about 35,000 people, should receive notifications in the next few days informing them of their role in the new citizen judge system which takes effect on Jan. 1.

The first batch of notifications was mailed on Thursday to people living within the jurisdictions of district courts in Taoyuan, Hualien County, Yunlin County, Pingtung County, Tainan and Kaohsiung's Ciaotou District (Qiaotou), the Judicial Yuan's Criminal Department said on Friday.

A total of 120,000 people nationwide are eligible to be selected as citizen judges next year, it said.

Under the National Judge Act (National Judge Act), passed in 2020, any citizen older than 23 is eligible to serve as a citizen judge, and participate in deliberations over crimes warranting a prison term of at least 10 years or premeditated crimes that resulted in death.

Under the new system, three professional judges and six citizen judges are to form a collaborative bench to preside over trials.

The Criminal Department said that those who received the notice have to complete the “potential citizen judges self-declaration questionnaire” enclosed to ensure their eligibility.

If recipients find any items listed on the questionnaire that apply to themselves or have reasons that prevent them from performing the duties of a citizen judge, they must complete either a paper or online questionnaire and send it back to the local court, it said.

Those who receive a second notice informing them that they have been listed as a “prospective citizen judge” should either reply in writing or attend a selection session held by the local court to affirm their role as an “official citizen judge.”

Each district court has set up citizen judge hotlines or dedicated extension numbers to help answer questions about the process, the department said.

The citizen judge system would reshape the judiciary, as it could make the criminal trial procedure more rigorous and comprehensive, as well as highlight the values ​​of due process of law as guaranteed by the Constitution and fair trial, it said.

The system would also provide an opportunity for people to enter the court and understand the judicial process, it said, adding that it hopes the system can deepen exchanges between the judiciary and the public, as well as enhance mutual understanding and trust.

News source: TAIPEI TIMES

Seats reserved for citizen judges are pictured in the Citizen Judge Court at the Taipei District Court on July 27. Photo: CNA