Both Kubilius and Grybauskaitė have announced their support of introducing trial juries to the Lithuanian legal system. Photo by the Lithuanian State Chancellery.
VILNIUS — In light of public criticism of corruption in Lithuania’s judicial system that helped fuel the pro-Kedys movement, the government is considering the most significant reform of the court system since the country regained independence — introducing trial juries.
The right to a jury trial may only be given for certain types of cases, though.
The Lithuanian legal system is based on [private_supervisor]the civil law system most of Continental Europe uses and juries are not a part of trial proceedings. However, considering that surveys have consistently show that about 70 percent of Lithuanians distrust the country’s legal system, President Dalia Grybauskaitė supports the introduction of juries to advise judges and add transparency to trial verdicts.
“In principle, juries should be used in some cases,” Grybauskaitė told reporters at a press conference last month. “This is certainly possible in Lithuania, but it will require significant changes in legislation.”
Grybauskaitė’s predecessor Valdas Adamkus also supported the introduction of trial juries, but the initiative did not gain the support of the Social Democratic-led parliament. Lithuania’s prime minister said Thursday that he would support introducing popular elections for Lithuanian judges.
“The introduction of a jury system would certainly be welcomed,” Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told Žinių Radijas in a morning interview, saying it would help to fight corruption.
Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius said he would support the introduction of juries, too especially for family law cases.
“This will require a constitutional amendment, which is reported in Seimas. I think that the introduction of a jury in the Lithuanian legal system is a very simple thing, and it should be for separate categories of cases,” Šimašius told the Lietuvos Rytas newspaper.
Under current law, juries are not used and conviction and sentencing powers are held by judges. Constitutional Court justices are appointed by the Seimas, while judges of the Court of Appeals are appointed by the president upon approval by the Seimas and district and local court justices are appointed by the president. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]the civil law system most of Continental Europe uses and juries are not a part of trial proceedings. However, considering that surveys have consistently show that about 70 percent of Lithuanians distrust the country’s legal system, President Dalia Grybauskaitė supports the introduction of juries to advise judges and add transparency to trial verdicts.
“In principle, juries should be used in some cases,” Grybauskaitė told reporters at a press conference last month. “This is certainly possible in Lithuania, but it will require significant changes in legislation.”
Grybauskaitė’s predecessor Valdas Adamkus also supported the introduction of trial juries, but the initiative did not gain the support of the Social Democratic-led parliament. Lithuania’s prime minister said Thursday that he would support introducing popular elections for Lithuanian judges.
“The introduction of a jury system would certainly be welcomed,” Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told Žinių Radijas in a morning interview, saying it would help to fight corruption.
Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius said he would support the introduction of juries, too especially for family law cases.
“This will require a constitutional amendment, which is reported in Seimas. I think that the introduction of a jury in the Lithuanian legal system is a very simple thing, and it should be for separate categories of cases,” Šimašius told the Lietuvos Rytas newspaper.
Under current law, juries are not used and conviction and sentencing powers are held by judges. Constitutional Court justices are appointed by the Seimas, while judges of the Court of Appeals are appointed by the president upon approval by the Seimas and district and local court justices are appointed by the president. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]the civil law system most of Continental Europe uses and juries are not a part of trial proceedings. However, considering that surveys have consistently show that about 70 percent of Lithuanians distrust the country’s legal system, President Dalia Grybauskaitė supports the introduction of juries to advise judges and add transparency to trial verdicts.
“In principle, juries should be used in some cases,” Grybauskaitė told reporters at a press conference last month. “This is certainly possible in Lithuania, but it will require significant changes in legislation.”
Grybauskaitė’s predecessor Valdas Adamkus also supported the introduction of trial juries, but the initiative did not gain the support of the Social Democratic-led parliament. Lithuania’s prime minister said Thursday that he would support introducing popular elections for Lithuanian judges.
“The introduction of a jury system would certainly be welcomed,” Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told Žinių Radijas in a morning interview, saying it would help to fight corruption.
Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius said he would support the introduction of juries, too especially for family law cases.
“This will require a constitutional amendment, which is reported in Seimas. I think that the introduction of a jury in the Lithuanian legal system is a very simple thing, and it should be for separate categories of cases,” Šimašius told the Lietuvos Rytas newspaper.
Under current law, juries are not used and conviction and sentencing powers are held by judges. Constitutional Court justices are appointed by the Seimas, while judges of the Court of Appeals are appointed by the president upon approval by the Seimas and district and local court justices are appointed by the president. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]the civil law system most of Continental Europe uses and juries are not a part of trial proceedings. However, considering that surveys have consistently show that about 70 percent of Lithuanians distrust the country’s legal system, President Dalia Grybauskaitė supports the introduction of juries to advise judges and add transparency to trial verdicts.
“In principle, juries should be used in some cases,” Grybauskaitė told reporters at a press conference last month. “This is certainly possible in Lithuania, but it will require significant changes in legislation.”
Grybauskaitė’s predecessor Valdas Adamkus also supported the introduction of trial juries, but the initiative did not gain the support of the Social Democratic-led parliament. Lithuania’s prime minister said Thursday that he would support introducing popular elections for Lithuanian judges.
“The introduction of a jury system would certainly be welcomed,” Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told Žinių Radijas in a morning interview, saying it would help to fight corruption.
Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius said he would support the introduction of juries, too especially for family law cases.
“This will require a constitutional amendment, which is reported in Seimas. I think that the introduction of a jury in the Lithuanian legal system is a very simple thing, and it should be for separate categories of cases,” Šimašius told the Lietuvos Rytas newspaper.
Under current law, juries are not used and conviction and sentencing powers are held by judges. Constitutional Court justices are appointed by the Seimas, while judges of the Court of Appeals are appointed by the president upon approval by the Seimas and district and local court justices are appointed by the president. [/private_subscription 1 year]
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