Japan's Retrial System Reform Bill: Debate Continues on Prosecutor Appeal Ban

In Japan, a reform bill for the criminal retrial system is facing ongoing disagreement between the Ministry of Justice and Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, particularly concerning the ban on prosecutor appeals, with discussions expected to prolong.

Fri May 08 2026

Prolonged Debate on Retrial System Reform

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party held a review of a proposed reform bill for the criminal retrial system on May 7, but failed to reach a conclusion due to disagreements over banning appeals by prosecutors. This means discussions are set to continue into next week.

Ministry of Justice's Amendment and Backlash

During the meeting, the Ministry of Justice proposed an amendment that would, in principle, prohibit appeals by prosecutors, to be included in the supplementary provisions of the bill. While there was no objection to the principle itself, some Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers strongly demanded that this prohibition be stipulated in the main body of the law, not just in the supplementary provisions, to ensure its effectiveness, leading to continued conflict.

Key Issues Including 'New Evidence' Standards

The proposed amendment includes clarifying the criteria for 'new evidence' in criminal retrials and imposing penalties if prosecutors fail to comply with court orders to disclose evidence. With no agreement reached, negotiations for the reform of the retrial system will resume next week.

*Source: YouTube: 日テレNEWS (2026-05-08)*

Tags: #Retrial System #Criminal Procedure Law #LDP #Ministry of Justice #Appeal Ban