Summary trial procedure - Summary trial procedure

A public trial procedure established in 1953 (Showa 28) from the perspective of promoting speedy trials or hearings for relatively minor cases where the parties are not in dispute. It was created when the Code of Criminal Procedure was partially revised, based on the alignment (procedures for admitting or denying indictment) in American law.

Compared to the normal procedure, the restrictions on the admissibility of hearsay evidence (statements that have not been given the opportunity for cross-examination of the defendant) have been relaxed (Criminal Procedure Law, Article 320, Paragraph 2), and the method of evidence examination has been simplified, allowing evidence examination to be conducted in a manner deemed appropriate at the trial date (Criminal Procedure Law, Article 307, Paragraph 2). In other words, if the defendant states at the opening proceedings that he is guilty of the charges listed in the indictment, the court may, after hearing the opinions of the prosecutor, the defendant, and the defense counsel, decide to use summary trial procedures to try only those charges for which he has stated that he is guilty. Furthermore, if the defendant does not object, all hearsay evidence such as statements of statements may be used as evidence. However, the principle regarding the voluntariness of confessions (Criminal Procedure Law, Article 319) is not relaxed. In addition, this does not apply to cases that are punishable by death penalty or life imprisonment or imprisonment for a term of one year or more (Criminal Procedure Law, Articles 291, Paragraphs 2 and 291, Paragraph 3), so summary trial procedures do not apply.

[Ichiro Uchida and Morikazu Taguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

当事者に争いのない比較的軽微な事件について、迅速な裁判ないし審理の促進という観点から、1953年（昭和28）に設けられた公判手続。アメリカ法のアレインメント（起訴認否手続）を参考にして、刑事訴訟法一部改正に際して創設された。

　通常の手続に対して、伝聞証拠（被告人の反対尋問の機会にさらされていない供述）の証拠能力の制限を緩和し（刑事訴訟法320条2項）、証拠調べの方式を簡易化して、証拠調べは公判期日において適当と認める方法で行うことができるとしている（同法307条の2）。すなわち、被告人が冒頭手続に際し、起訴状に記載された訴因について有罪である旨を陳述したときは、裁判所は、検察官、被告人および弁護人の意見を聞き、有罪である旨の陳述のあった訴因に限り、簡易公判手続によって審判する旨の決定をなしうる。さらに、被告人から異議がなければ、供述調書などの伝聞証拠もすべて証拠にできる。ただし、自白の任意性などに関する原則（同法319条）は緩和されない。また、死刑または無期もしくは短期1年以上の懲役もしくは禁錮にあたる事件についてはこの限りではない（同法291条の2、291条の3）ので、簡易公判手続は適用されない。

［内田一郎・田口守一］

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