The Runaway Train of Lay Participation in Trials: Who Will Call for a Stop? Public Mobilization in Full Support of "Simultaneous Pilot Programs for Lay Assessors and Jury Systems"

The "Alliance for the Promotion of Simultaneous Pilot Programs for Lay Assessors and Jury Systems" was initiated by civil society organizations concerned with judicial reform. Their demands are: (1) Oppose the Judicial Yuan's arbitrary exclusion of the jury system. (2) Public support for simultaneous pilot programs for both lay assessors and jury systems. Since the launch of the petition on April 30, over 150 organizations and 881 individuals have participated. Today, the Alliance mobilized all its members to gather at the Zhongshan South Road entrance of the Legislative Yuan, inviting representatives from the caucus groups of both ruling and opposition parties to receive a petition letter and sign in support of the demand for "simultaneous pilot programs for lay assessors and jury systems."

Today's mobilization action opened with a theatrical performance titled "The Runaway Train of Lay Participation in Trials: Who Will Call for a Stop?" A train representing lay participation in trials depicted how the Judicial Yuan and civil society organizations enthusiastically discussed specific plans for "simultaneous pilot programs for lay assessors and jury systems" in 2019. However, by 2020, the Judicial Yuan pushed civil society organizations off the train halfway, unilaterally sprinting toward a "single pilot program for lay assessors only." At this moment, civil society organizations are left with infinite regret and helplessness: What happened to the promised dual-track pilot programs? If you do not test both, how can you know which scenery is more beautiful? Who can call for a stop to this runaway train of lay participation in trials driven by the Judicial Yuan?

Yesterday, the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee of the Legislative Yuan held a public hearing on "Enhancing Judicial Credibility—What Should the Judicial Trial System Best Suited for Taiwan's Citizens' Participation Be?" Faced with public questioning, the Judicial Yuan consistently failed to explain why "simultaneous pilot programs for lay assessors and jury systems" was a viable plan in 2019, yet only the "single pilot program for lay assessors only" was viable in 2020. The Legislative Yuan is a representative body of public opinion and has the responsibility to safeguard the people and supervise the Judicial Yuan's arbitrariness. This Alliance calls upon all political parties, ruling and opposition alike, to jointly support "simultaneous pilot programs for lay assessors and jury systems" in order to steer the judicial reform train of lay participation in trials onto a rule-of-law track worthy of public trust.

Attending Representatives

Moderators
Chang Hung-lin / Chief Executive Officer, Citizen's Congress Watch
Hsu Hui-ying / Board Director, Taiwan Citizens' Association for Public Participation

Organizational Representatives
Lin Yung-sung / Judicial Reform Foundation (Convener)
Cheng Wen-lung / Founding Chairperson, Taiwan Association for the Jury (Convener)
Ch'en Ch'uan-yueh / Founding Chairperson, Taiwan Yongshe
Chang Ching / Member, National Congress on Judicial Reform
Li Ch'uan-hsin / President, Taiwan North Society
Su Huan-chih / Former Magistrate of Tainan County
Wang Wei-chun / Chairperson, Association for the Promotion of ROC Children's Rights
Lin Chun-hung / Convener of Judicial Reform Committee, Taipei Bar Association
Chou Ni-an / Director of Organization Department, Taiwan Solidarity Union
Hu Shih-ho / Convener, Mutual Aid Association for Victims of Military Injustices
Kao Chi-tsan / Chairperson, Association for the Promotion of Taiwan Parliamentary Transparency
Chang Wen-chieh / Lawyer, Chinese National Association for the Promotion of Rule of Law Reform
Ho Ch'i-sheng / Tien-Ai Chih-Kwang Education Foundation
Chang Kai-chun / Chairperson, Taipei Civil Human Rights Service Association
Chen Wan-hsiang / President, Association of Military Human Rights and Victim Families

Legislators
Lai Hsiang-ling / Legislator
Chang Chi-lu / Legislator
Kao Hung-an / Legislator
Chiu Hsien-chih / Legislator
Lin Wei-chou / Legislator

Press Contacts

Hsiao I-min, Director of the Office, Judicial Reform Foundation