Georgian Parliament adopted jury court initiative at first reading

Georgian parliament today with 103 votes adopted legislative initiative, which provides for the consideration of the jury courts cases of former senior officials, who were arrested after the change of power in the country.

During the parliamentary debate Department of Justice, which is the initiator of the bill, adopted a number of proposals from members of the National Movement, including the fact that the range of action of a jury, which is now possible to conduct only in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, was expanded to trials by jury may be carried out in Batumi.

In addition, the draft law adopted in the first reading also reflects the issue of approval to the trials and provide broadcast video cameras in such a version, as provided in the approved in the first reading the draft law on the general courts.

The initiators of the bill did not accept the proposal of the National Movement, which concerned the further expansion of range of cases that can be tried by a jury, including for premeditated murder, domestic violence and robbery.

Jury trials was introduced in Georgia in late 2011, but now a court considers only those cases that are related to the murder with aggravating circumstances, and premeditated murder in the heat of excitement and rape. At the same time, it is determined that the courts of the jurors are only in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Prior to that time were only three trials by jury.

For these items, according to the bill, will be added and criminal charges against those officials who hold or have held high positions, as well as the case of those who are accused of committing a crime together with officials.