Jurors need reforms
Summary:
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In recent weeks, the postulate to introduce magistrates to the Polish judiciary has become widespread. Meanwhile, the judiciary already involves a social element in the form of jurors, who unfortunately remain a neglected institution.
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According to the Constitution, jurors (or another form of public participation in the administration of justice) are a mandatory part of the judicial system. They cannot be limited to a purely symbolic function, but neither can they exercise the administration of justice alone.
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The lack of training and educational opportunities for jurors is a common problem. It should be made possible for jurors to participate in training at the National School of the Judiciary and Public Prosecution, and training opportunities should be expanded and adequately funded. It also seems advisable to introduce some form of examination to test jurors' knowledge of the basics of the law and the functioning of the judiciary, as well as the possibility of dismissing a juror in the case of gross incompetence.
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It would also be useful to develop an accessible code of good practice and a handbook for jurors, municipal councils and courts, which could be created under the authority of the administrative supervisor of the courts.
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N Restrictions on the eligibility to serve as a juror should be expanded to include members of political parties and municipal police officers.
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The introduction of the institution of jurors to the Supreme Court after three years should be considered a failed experiment and the institution should be abolished.
Contact to author:
Piotr Oliński, FOR Junior Analyst
piotr.olinski@for.org.pl
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