TOKYO: A new page in Japan's legal history was turned over the weekend when nearly 300,000 Japanese received notices telling them that they were potential candidates for lay judge duty when the system begins next May.

Under the system, serious cases at the 60 district courts nationwide, such as murder, will be examined by a nine-member panel comprising three professional judges and six 'lay judges'.

At present, such trials are generally heard by a team of three professional judges.

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