日本刻正進行一場跨世紀重要的司法改革。就刑事訴訟而言，改革最大特徵莫過於在維持現行當事人進行的訴訟架構下，引進國民參與刑事審判—裁判員制度，同時修法賦予檢察審查會決議有法律的拘束力、確立偵查中之公設辯護機制以及充實審判期日前的準備程序及證據開示制度。其目的分別在落實司法的民主化、強化被告防禦權益以及促進迅速而具實效的刑事審判。司法制度如果在解決紛爭，實現社會的公平與正義，則審判的原點，無非在於公平、迅速且正確的解決紛爭。日本此次刑事司法改革方向及具體作為，能否引進我國，由於兩國問題狀況的類型及程度有別，仍需慎重檢討，惟其推動改革的流程，尤其是引進裁判員制度的議論經過，可資為我們在討論此項課題上的參考。

Japan is now reforming its criminal justice system in a large scale and by a legitimate process. As to criminal procedure, there are three big points concluding: to admit citizens to participate in the judge so called Saibanin jury-mixed panel; a suspect into custody has the right to get legal assist form lawyers appointed by the court; and discovery in the pretrial stage also. The golas of these reforms are mainly to prevail democracy into criminal justice, to enhance the suspect’s right to public council and to promote the efficiency of criminal proceedings. From a viewpoint of comparative law, although it is arguable and impractical to adopt jury under our existing system of criminal procedure as Japan did, it is much helpful and valuable for us to examine the advantages and disadvantages of the mixed panel system of Japan.