December 9, 2020
Event Description: Japan and the United States are the only two members of the Group of Seven advanced democracies that still execute criminals. Surveys show that the Japanese public strongly supports the death penalty, despite criticism from international organizations. Since lay jurors began participating in some criminal trials in 2009, they have played a role in deciding who should be executed. Professor Takashi Maruta will talk about the history and theory of Japan’s death penalty system, and the role now played by lay jurors.