Nazarbayev introduces jury trials for criminal cases

16th January 2006 - Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan, has today signed the law "On changes and amendments in the law 'On juries."

This law introduced the jury institution into the practice of legal proceedings for the consideration of criminal cases.

The law must determine the status of jury members, the settlement of organisational sides of court activities with participation of juries. It defines authorities and tasks of local executive bodies concerning the formation of lists of candidates for juries, settles their labour issues, periodicity of their participation in the consideration of criminal cases. Moreover, the law stipulates guarantees of independence of a juror.

Besides, the head of state has signed the law "On changes and amendments in several legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on introduction of legal proceedings with participation of jurors."

This document regulates social relations that are related to the juries.

The law provides changes in the Criminal Code, Civil Procedural Code, and Administrative Code of RK.