Japan will speed up court proceedings for petty crimes including shoplifting and minor drug offenses, trimming the procedure from two months to about two weeks, a court official said Wednesday. The measure, to be introduced starting October, is part of efforts to address criticism of lengthy criminal trials, said Katsunori Fujioka, a spokesman for the Supreme Court, Japan's highest court. A ruling on minor crimes such as shoplifting or first-time amphetamine use could be handed down within 14 days of indictment, compared with about two months at present, Fujioka said. Both defendant and defense lawyer will have to agree in advance to the shortened court process, he said.