The reform of the judicial system, the most important task the judiciary now faces, has also progressed steadily in the field of the criminal justice system. A part of the Act for Partial Amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure etc. (Act No. 62 of 2004; hereinafter referred to as the “Amended Code of Criminal Procedure, etc.”), which aims to introduce various measures for enhancement and speeding-up of criminal trials, was put into force, and the Act on Participation of Saiban-ins in Criminal Trials (Act No. 63 of 2004; hereinafter referred to as the “Saiban-in Act”), which aims to introduce the Saiban-in system (meaning the system where Saiban-ins selected from the general public get involved in criminal proceedings together with judges; hereinafter the same) is to be fully enforced by May 2009.
  In this chapter, an introduction shall be made on the outline and progress of the reform in the judicial system in the field of the criminal justice system.