Lay Participation in Criminal Trials The Case of Croatia

Ordinary citizens have been a part of many decision-making bodies throughout history. In this important new study, Sanja Kutnjak Ivkovic examines development of various forms of lay participation in legal decision-making. She specifically focuses on the development of mixed tribunals in which professional and lay judges decide cases jointly. Primarily concerned with the nature of Croatian mixed tribunals, Ivkovic investigates recent trials, providing an in-depth look at the interaction among tribunal members. She presents a detailed analysis that determines how gender, age, occupational prestige, and education affect the perceived frequency and importance of lay judges' participation during trial and deliberation. Finally, she discusses the future of mixed tribunals and possible improvements to the system. Ivkovic's work is a timely contribution that will not only help readers understand recent events in Croatia but has the potential to improve the quality of any tribunal composed of professional and lay members.