Recruiting Citizen Observers for the Shilin Citizen Judge Mock Trial!
Last edited: 2026-08-30
The Citizen Judges Act will take effect next year (2023). In preparation for this major reform, courts across Taiwan are actively holding mock trials. To help civil society gain a deeper understanding of the citizen judge system, we invite members of the public to join this court-observation group, learn about the system together, and offer suggestions from a citizen's perspective to help improve it.
This program includes a pre-observation briefing, observation of the mock trial, and a post-trial discussion. Preparatory instruction and materials will help participants learn how to observe a mock trial, identify key issues, and develop useful perspectives for observation. Through interaction with the instructor, participants will also discuss the finer points of courtroom proceedings. The observation group will then attend the mock trial together and exchange observations and feedback afterward.
Participant Limit
25 participants
Requirements
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Participants must attend the pre-observation briefing on Thursday, April 7, from 19:00 to 21:00, and the post-trial discussion on Wednesday, April 20, from 19:00 to 21:00. (Location: Judicial Reform Foundation, a three-minute walk from Songjiang Nanjing MRT Station.)
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We recommend attending all court proceedings from Tuesday, April 12 through Thursday, April 14. If you cannot attend the entire program because of scheduling constraints, we ask that participants attend at least one complete court proceeding to ensure a reasonably complete observation. This may be the selection procedure, trial proceedings, or deliberations (see the schedule below; actual proceedings may be delayed or otherwise changed).
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Please also assist by completing the citizen-observer feedback form for the session you attend.
Schedule
[Pre-Observation Briefing | Citizen Judge Mock Trial (Shilin Session)]
- Time: Thursday, April 7, 19:00-21:00 (doors open at 18:30)
- Location: Judicial Reform Foundation, Taipei Office
- Instructor: Attorney Lin Chun-Ju (Director, Legal Policy Department, JRF)
[Observation | Citizen Judge Mock Trial (Shilin Session)]
※ When registering, please make sure that you can attend at least one complete proceeding, for example, the trial proceedings from April 12 at 13:00 through April 13 at 17:40. At the briefing, participants will be asked to indicate which portions they can attend.
| Time | Proceeding |
| 4/12 09:10-12:00 | Selection Procedure |
| 4/12 13:00-17:55 | Trial Proceedings |
| 4/13 09:30-12:00 | Trial Proceedings |
| 4/13 13:30-17:40 | Trial Proceedings |
| 4/14 09:30-12:30 | Deliberations |
| 4/14 13:30-15:30 | Deliberations |
| 4/14 15:30-16:00 | Pronouncement of Judgment |
| 4/14 16:00-17:30 | Seminar |
[Post-Trial Discussion | Citizen Judge Mock Trial (Shilin Session)]
- Time: Wednesday, April 20, 19:00-21:00 (doors open at 18:30)
- Location: Judicial Reform Foundation
- Instructor: Attorney Lin Chun-Ju (Director, Legal Policy Department, JRF)
Event Contact
Chen Yang, Researcher, JRF (02) 2523-1178 ext. 21
This article is an AI-generated translation of the original Chinese text. In the event of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.