The people’s jury system will be improved by reforming regulations on how people’s jurors are selected and trained, according to a recent regulation issued by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Ministry of Justice.

Cao Jianming, a vice president of the SPC, said on Saturday that local courts should give priority to those with a good cultural background and knowledge of law. That the jurors have high moral standards is also essential.

Previously, the laws and regulations pertaining to the jury system were vague and there were no specific regulations on the requirements and selection procedures for jurors.

According to the newly released regulation, an eligible juror must have at least a junior college education and must be trained before he or she participates in court hearings.

It also states that jurors must be appointed by the standing committee of the legislature. When the five-year term of a juror expires he or she will be automatically removed from the post.

When working out the evaluation criteria for jurors, local courts should consult judicial government agencies at the same level, and take their achievements, attitude and moral standards into consideration.

According to a timetable fixed by the SPC, candidates for the next round of jurors will be selected in the first two months of 2005. They will be trained from March to April and take their posts on May 1.

People’s jurors serve as lay judges by joining professional judges in court hearings.

"To build a clean and fair judicial system, judges can provide jurors with cues or instructions on law, but implication on specific case identification or pressing ideas on the jurors are strictly prohibited," said Jiang Xiangchang, another vice president of the SPC, on Sunday.

Sources with the SPC said they are currently working on two other regulations concerning the administration and training of jurors. They will be put into effect upon revision after soliciting feedback.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2004)