(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A newly proposed measure to prevent defendants from freely withdrawing their request for a jury in a criminal trial after the case reaches the main district court may be put into place.
This is to prevent defendants from abusing the system by asking for a jury then retracting the request.
The proposal arose from a meeting held yesterday at the Supreme Court with 20 jury judges and 31 associate judges present.
The judges decided not to allow requests for a jury trial to be withdrawn after the case has been referred to the main district court, except under special circumstances.
Under the current system, a jury trial is only possible when it is requested by the defendant.
The new proposal attempts to stop defendants from abusing the system to get their case transferred to a different court. At the meeting, the judges also discussed measures to help jurors understand the trial process better.
Judges decided to use legal terms in a way that was easier to comprehend and to provide explanations to jurors when necessary.
In addition, the judges agreed that more research must be done on how to help jurors do their work better.
There was also talk on how to simplify the trial preparation process in order to cut down on excess work by the judging panel.
An official from the Supreme Court said that the discussion on jury trials would continue in the future.
H. S. Seo (hsseo@koreabizwire.com)
