Abstract
The study reveals the relationship between lay participation and the quality of justice by collecting classic arguments establishing lay participation in dispensing justice and subjecting them to critical analysis. A considerable number of arguments show a strong correlation with the image of quality and democratic justice. However, in the case of lay judiciary forms, the relationship between the goals set forth in arguments and their enforcement in practice can be detected to a different extent, although generally in a more modest way compared to legislative intent. What form of lay judiciary operates in a legal system and how it operates are generally more determined by legal historical myths pertaining to the institution than to any policy aimed at developing the quality of justice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
European Charter of Lay Judges, Brussels, 11 May 2012.
- 2.
See, for example Igazságügyi Minisztérium (2015) ME/163/2015. Előterjesztés a Kormány részére az új büntetőeljárási törvény szabályozási elveiről.
- 3.
Ehrenamtliche Richter.
- 4.
See, for example, Walker (1980).
- 5.
For a detailed analysis of the issue, see Iontcheva (2003).
- 6.
In France juges de proximité, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland magistrates, in Italy Giudici di Pace, in Scotland Justices of the Peace.
- 7.
R v Birmingham Magistrates ex parte Ahmed, 1995, R v Eccles Justices, ex parte Farrelly, 1992.
- 8.
Regarding lay participation, the idea of representation is shown in the light of geographical representation, since particular significance was attached to the enforcement of local community aspects in decisions in the case of initial judicial forms. Although the latter aspect derogates legal certainty and in some situations leads to conflict of interest problems, in reality, only minor importance may be given to it in practice.
- 9.
Providing ratio-proportionate representation of certain social groups in the judiciary has been given particular attention during the selection of magistrates since this campaign. Although everyone is aware that attaining full compliance is not possible, approaching this objective is regarded as the guarantee of impartiality in justice. Statistically, this endeavor seems to have accomplished its objective. If 2012 data on professional judges are compared to those of magistrates, the discrepancy becomes visible. If, for example, the gender rate is compared, a glaring discrepancy is perceived. Only 807 women are found among some 3,500 professional judges while, as for magistrates, the proportion of women exceeds that of men by some percent.
- 10.
For example, among magistrates seeing service in the London area, the minority rate lags far behind the rate of minorities residing there.
- 11.
It is worth citing what is written regarding the application process for magistrates. The Judicial Office officially declares that magistrates are exclusively selected on merit. In the following sentence, however, there is an indication that applicants from an under-represented social group are encouraged: Applications are welcome from any person who meets the eligibility criteria for appointment and who believes they have the necessary qualities. Applications are particularly welcome from members of groups currently under-represented amongst the magistracy. That includes members of Black and Minority Ethnic communities, people under the age of 50, people from non-managerial or professional occupations, and people with a disability who are able, either unassisted or with the benefit of reasonable adjustments, to carry out the full range of a magistrate’s duties. (Becoming Magistrate in England and Wales. Guidance for Prospective Applicants. May 2015, Magistrates HR, Judicial Office.)
- 12.
There is an evident reference to the legitimacy function of the institution, for example, in the definition of the German assessor role which is laid down by the Act on the Status of Judges (DRiG): “[…] ein Symbol darstellten, das verdeutlicht, dass das Recht im Namen des Volkes, durch seine Legitimation getragen, gesprochen wird.”
- 13.
Special jury, honorary judges.
References
Anderson S (1990) Lay judges and jurors in Denmark. Am J Comp Law 38:839–864. https://doi.org/10.2307/840614
Badó A (1996) Az angolszász típusú esküdtszék kritikai elemzése. Acta Univ Szeged Acta Juridica Polit 50:1–52
Badó A (2000) Laikus bíráskodás és reprezentativitás: a ‘fair cross section’ doktrína. Acta Univ Szeged Acta Juridica Polit 58:7–14
Badó A (2013) Az igazságszolgáltató hatalom függetlensége és a tisztességes eljárás. Pólay Elemér Alapítvány, Szeged
Badó A (2015) A magyar ülnöki rendszer vizsgálata
Badó A, Bencze M (2007) Reforming the Hungarian lay justice system. In: Cserne P (ed) Theatrum legale mundi: symbola Cs. Varga oblata. Szt. István Társulat, Budapest, pp 1–13
Baldwin J, McConwille M (1983) Jury trials. Mod Law Rev 42:726–727
Burgess P, Corby S, Latreille PL (2014) Lay judges and labor courts: a question of legitimacy. Comp Labor Law Policy J 35:191–215
Casper G, Zeisel H (eds) (1979) Der Laienrichter im Strafprozess: vier empirische Studien zur Rechtsvergleichung. C.F. Müller Juristischer Verl, Heidelberg
Clermont KM, Eisenberg T (1991) Trial by jury or judge: transcending empiricism. Cornell Rev 77:1124–1177
Corey Z, Hans VP (2010) Japan’s new lay judge system: deliberative democracy in action?
Darbyshire P (1997) An essay on the importance and neglect of the magistracy. Crim Law Rev 627–643
Devlin P (1956) Trial by jury. Stevens&Sons Limited, London
Diamond SS (1990) Revising images of public punitiveness: sentencing by lay and professional English magistrates. Law Soc Inq 15(2)
Goldbach TS, Hans VP (2014) Juries, lay judges, and trials. In: Bruinsma G, Weisburd D (eds) Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice. Springer, New York, New York, NY, pp 2716–2727
Igazságügyi Minisztérium (2015) ME/163/2015. Előterjesztés a Kormány részére az új büntetőeljárási törvény szabályozási elveiről
Iontcheva J (2003) Jury sentencing as democratic practice. Va Law Rev 311–383
Ivković SK (2003) An inside view: Professional Judges’ and Lay judges’ support for mixed tribunals. Law Policy 25:93–122
Jackson JD, Kovalev NP (2006) Lay adjudication and human rights in Europe. Colum J Eur L 13:83–124
Kalven H, Zeisel H (1966) The American jury. Little Brown and Company, Boston
Klausa E (1972) Ehrenamtliche Richter: ihre Auswahl und Funktion, empirisch untersucht. Athenäum, Frankfurt am Main
Kulcsár K (1971) A népi ülnök a bíróságon: jogszociológiai tanulmány. Akadémiai K, Budapest
Machura S (2000) Eine Kultur der Kooperation zwischen Schöffen und Berufsrichtern. Richter Ohne Rebe 111–116
Machura S (2001) Fairness und Legitimität. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft
Malleson K (2006a) Rethinking the merit principle in judicial selection. J Law Soc 33:126–140
Malleson K (2006b) Modernising the constitution: completing the unfinished business. In: Canivet G, Andenas M, Fairgrieve D (eds) Independence accountability, and the judiciary. British Institute of International and Comparative Law, London
Malsch M, Findlay PM, Henham PR (2009) Democracy in the courts: lay participation in European criminal justice systems. Ashgate Publishing Limited, Farnham
Peters K (1972) Fehlerquellen im Strafprozess: eine Untersuchung der Wiederaufnahmeverfahren in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Verlag C.F, Müller, Karlsruhe
Rennig C (1993) Die Entscheidungsfindung durch Schöffen und Berufsrichter in rechtlicher und psychologischer Sicht: empirische, rechtsdogmatische und psychologisch-theoretische Untersuchung zur Laienbeteiligung an der Strafgerichtsbarkeit. Elwert, Marburg
Roberts P (2011) Does Article 6 of the European convention on human rights require reasoned verdicts in criminal trials? Hum Rights Law Rev 11:213–235
Sepe SM, Whitehead CK (2014) Paying for risk: bankers, compensation, and competition. Cornell Law Fac Work Pap 114:13–87
Simon RJ, Marshall P (1972) The jury system. In: Nagel SS (ed) The rights of the accused in law and action. Sage, Beverly Hills, pp 211–233
Tausch A-M, Langer I (1971) Soziales Verhalten von Richtern gegenüber Angeklagten. Merkmale, Auswirkungen sowie Änderung durch ein Selbst-Training. Z Für Entwicklungspsychologie Pädagog Psychol 3:283–303
Thaman SC (1997) Spain returns to trial by jury
Thaman SC (1999) Europe’s new jury systems: the cases of Spain and Russia. Law Contemp Probl 62:233–259
de Tocqueville A (1983) A demokrácia Amerikában: válogatás. Gondolat, Budapest
Vidmar N (1998) The performance of the American civil jury: an empirical perspective. Ariz Law Rev 40:849
Villmow B, TerVeen H, Walkowiak A, Gerken J (1986) Die Mitwirkung von Laien in der (Jugend)-Strafgerichtsbarkeit: Rechtsprechung zwischen Professionalität und Bürgernähe. Integration von Strafrechts- und Sozialwissenschaften: Festschrift für Lieselotte Pongratz. Schweitzer, München, pp 306–361
Walker S (1980) Popular justice: a history of American criminal justice. Oxford University Press, New York
Walker MA (1992) Sentencing studies: comment on diamond. Law Soc Inq 17:109–113
Waye V (2003) Judicial fact-finding: trial by judge alone in serious criminal cases. Melb UL Rev 27:423
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the project no. EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00007, entitled Aspects on the development of intelligent, sustainable and inclusive society: social, technological, innovation networks in employment and digital economy. The project has been supported by the European Union, co-financed by the European Social Fund and Hungarian budgetary sources.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Badó, A. (2018). Quality of Justice and Lay Participation in the Light of Scientific Studies. In: Bencze, M., Ng, G. (eds) How to Measure the Quality of Judicial Reasoning. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 69. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97316-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97316-6_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97315-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97316-6
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)