China approves pilot reform in jury system
Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:
BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) - China's top legislature on Friday approved a bill to pilot reforms to the jury system in some regions.
The bill was submitted by the Supreme People's Court for authorization as some reform policies run counter to existing laws.
The decision took effect after being announced. The pilot reforms will be in effect for two years.
The reform will increase the minimum age for jurors from 23 to 28 and lower the education requirement from junior college to senior high school.
The education requirements will be lowered further in rural and poor areas, where highly respected individuals may become jurors regardless of their educational backgrounds.
As part of the pilot reform, selection of jurors will switch from personal applications and organizational recommendations to random selection among qualified local people.
Another reform will restrict jurors to expressing opinions on the evidence and facts of a case, but will not let them comment on which laws should be applied. Currently, jurors may comment on the law.
The pilot reform will be carried out in 10 provincial-level regions including Beijing, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Fujian, Shandong, Henan, Guangxi, Chongqing and Shaanxi.