The Judicial Yuan on Tuesday called on employers and schools to allow people who have been chosen as jury members to take official leave when they are summoned.
Lawmakers passed the Citizen Judges Act in 2020 to allow citizens to participate in criminal trials as jury members. All Taiwanese citizens 23 and older could be summoned for service in court through a random draw. The new system will go into effect on January 1, 2023.
The Judicial Yuan on Tuesday brought together representatives from the labor ministry and Taiwan’s chamber of commerce. The meeting was intended to foster a better understanding of and support for the judicial reform.
Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun calls for the government to support workers so they can feel at ease when summoned as jury members. She also hopes that both employers and employees can look at the new system in a positive manner.
Meanwhile, head of Taiwan’s chamber of commerce Hsu Shu-po says he hopes employers will be given enough time to find temporary substitutes for summoned employees. The Judicial Yuan says employers and employees will be given 30 days of notice before the court trial is to begin.