Laymen as Judges (Lautamiehet Tuomareina)

• NCJ Number: 179699
• Author(s): Virve-Maria de Godzinsky; Kaijus Ervasti
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 166 pages
• Sale Source: National Research Institute of Legal Policy
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Country: Finland
• Note: English summary P 149-153

Annotation

This book examines the use of laymen as judges in courts in Finland.

Abstract

Reforms in Finland's court system have increased the role of laymen in criminal proceedings and decreased their role in civil cases. A questionnaire addressed to judges (n=111), advocates (n=158) and legal aid counsels (n=58) disclosed that the judges had the most positive view of lay representation and the advocates the most negative one. When citizens (n=1,273) were asked whether lay representation increased their confidence in the legal system, 44 percent considered that participation of lay members increased their confidence, 31 percent said lay member participation neither increased nor decreased their confidence and 16 percent considered that participation by laymen decreased their confidence. Lay members will probably play a more significant role in different informal, alternative procedures for conflict resolution rather than in proper legal decision-making. Table