CUHK Faculty of Law and Bar Association Co-organise International Conference on the Jury System and Public Participation in Judicial Decision-Making

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The Faculty of Law of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong Bar Association earlier co-organised, in a hybrid online and offline format, an international conference titled "Examining the Jury System: A Critical Exploration of the Future of Public Participation in Judicial Decision-Making." The conference brought together judges, legal professionals, scholars and students from different jurisdictions to discuss the evolution, practical implications and challenges of the jury system in common law and civil law systems. Some scholars believe that jury participation can help uphold public confidence in the administration of justice.

🏛️ Mao Lok-lai: The Jury System Is Protected by the Basic Law
The jury system has a history of more than 180 years in Hong Kong. Mao Lok-lai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, pointed out that jury trials are rooted in the common law tradition and are protected by the Basic Law. He described the jury system as an important part of a mature legal system, with judges deciding questions of law and juries determining questions of fact—a division of labour that helps maintain public confidence in the judicial system.

🌍 Conference Includes Hong Kong Session, Invites UK Judge to Speak
Jeremy Dein, Conference Chairman and Honorary Visiting Professor at CUHK's Faculty of Law, said the conference provides deeper insight into the role of public participation in enhancing the fairness and credibility of criminal trials, and explores what trial models may better meet the needs of a modern criminal justice system in different circumstances. Focusing on the local context, the conference included a session titled "The Hong Kong Jury Trial System: Local Perspectives and Contemporary Issues," and invited Richard Mark, a permanent judge at the Central Criminal Court in London, UK, to give a speech exploring how to respond to the needs of modern judicial operations while upholding traditional trial values. He added that although the jury system is a cornerstone of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, it is facing corresponding operational pressure amid discussions of case backlogs and institutional reform. In addition, a number of legal experts from Europe and the UK exchanged views on models of public participation in justice, challenges facing criminal trials and directions for reform in various places. CUHK's Faculty of Law said it will continue to promote related legal research and international academic exchange in the future.