Civil Lay Judges: A Global Overview

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the reliance on lay judges in civil matters around the world (excluding civil juries). The objective is to provide a starting point for scholars, lawmakers, and advocates to study and compare civil lay justice institutions in different jurisdictions and contexts.

The paper finds that about half of the world's jurisdictions rely on lay judges in one form or another in civil matters. It categorizes them as follows: jurisdictions where lay judges are used in informal justice institutions; those with civil mixed courts; and finally, those with civil lay courts or lay magistrates.

Keywords: Lay justice, lay judges, civil procedure, judicial institutions