Democracy in the Courts: Lay Participation in European Criminal Justice Systems (International and Comparative Criminal Justice)

This work examines lay participation in the administration of justice and how it reflects certain democratic principles. An international comparative perspective is taken for exploring how lay people are involved in the trial of criminal cases in European countries and how this impacts on their perspectives of the national legal systems. Comparisons between countries are made regarding how and to what extent lay participation takes place. The relation between lay participation and the legal system's legitimacy is analyzed. The book presents the results of interviews with both professional judges and lay participants in a number of European countries regarding their views on the involvement of lay people in the legal system. The ways in which judges and lay people interact while trying cases are explored. The characteristics of both professional and lay judging of cases are examined. Democracy in the Courts examines lay participation in the administration of justice and how it reflects certain democratic principles. An international comparative perspective is taken for exploring how lay people are involved in the trial of criminal cases in European countries and how this impacts on their perspectives of the national legal systems. Comparisons between countries are made regarding how and to what extent lay participation takes place and the relation between lay participation and the legal system's legitimacy is analyzed. Presenting the results of interviews with both professional judges and lay participants in a number of European countries regarding their views on the involvement of lay people in the legal system, this book explores the ways in which judges and lay people interact while trying cases, examining the characteristics of both professional and lay judging of cases. Providing an important analysis of practice, this book will be of interest to academics, legal scholars and practitioners alike. Introduction -- Citizen Participation As A Form Of Democracy -- Lay Adjudication In European Countries -- The Expertise Of Professional Judges And Lay Adjudicators -- The Netherlands : The Involvement Of Honorary Judges -- Expert Participation In Dutch Procedures -- Denmark -- Germany -- England And Wales -- Belgium -- Conclusions. Marijke Malsch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-227) And Index. Participation by citizens as a form of democracy Lay involvement in European countries The expertise of professional judges and of lay adjudicators The Netherlands : the involvement of honorary judges Experts participating in Dutch procedures Denmark Germany England and Wales Belgium.