Number of jurors to go up by 25%

The number of jurors will be increased by almost 15,000 this year to enhance public participation in trials and legal rulings, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said yesterday.

The country has 55,681 jurors but aims to boost that figure to 70,000 by October.

In 2004, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislative body, ordered courts to form judicial committees made up of judges and jurors to hear criminal, civil and administrative cases.