Lower House panel approves retrial system reform bill (opens original article in a new tab)

A Japanese parliamentary panel approved a bill to reform the retrial system, including provisions for regular reviews of evidence use and limiting prosecutors' appeals against retrial decisions.

• The bill revises the Code of Criminal Procedure to include regular reviews of evidence use every five years.
• Prosecutors' appeals against retrial decisions are prohibited in principle, except in cases with sufficient grounds.
• Opposition bills proposing stricter reforms were rejected by the ruling coalition.