Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 9 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
Georgian Justice Ministry is taking steps to strengthen and develop the jury trial institution.
Upon the Prosecutor General's initiative, the ministry developed a draft law to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, under which the range of cases considered by the jury has been increased. The court will also consider the cases of great public interest.
The competence of a jury trial will comprise criminal cases against senior officials. In particular, in addition to cases under Articles 109 and 110-114 of the Georgian Criminal Code, Tbilisi and Kutaisi city courts will consider cases with the participation of jury trial, creating increased public interest.
In particular, these are criminal proceedings related to officials and those accused of a crime involving officials, mentioned in the Article 2 (incompatibility of interests in public service and corruption)
The purpose of the draft law is the strengthening the jury trial institution and ensuring the use of democratic institution of jury trial in regard to the accused officials, because a jury verdict engenders public trust more than a court sentence.
The draft law has already been submitted to parliament as a legislative initiative.