With less than a year before Japan embarks on the lay judge system, some lawmakers are raising concerns that having to choose between the death sentence and the second most severe punishment — life with the possibility of parole after 10 years — will be too daunting a burden for the nonprofessionals presiding over criminal trials.
Liberal Democratic Party legislator Koichi Kato is a leading figure among Diet members trying to create another choice for the ordinary people who will be judging the innocence or guilt of their peers in serious crimes.
"The public will not be trying pickpockets, but will hear severe cases, and that is going to be extremely challenging," said Kato, a former LDP secretary general who has also served as chief Cabinet secretary. "As legislators, we must consider preparing an alternative (to the death penalty) that the people can choose."