Legal Definitions - lay judge

A lay judge is a type of judge who is not a lawyer. They are appointed to hear and decide legal matters in court, usually in conjunction with professional judges. Lay judges are also known as lay assessors or lay magistrates.

In Japan, lay judges are selected from the general public to sit alongside professional judges in criminal trials. They are responsible for deciding the guilt or innocence of the defendant and determining the sentence. This system was introduced in 2009 to increase public participation in the justice system.

This example illustrates how lay judges are appointed from the general public to participate in the legal system. They work alongside professional judges to make decisions in court.