I Was Just Scratching Myself

[Mulboyne]

A man who was arrested for exposing himself in public has been found not guilty by a court. The local prosecutor said there are no plans to appeal the verdict, saying it would be difficult win following this decision. The 34 year old company employee was arrested at a public bathhouse in Kanazawa after exposing his genitals in front of two women. The court had no doubt that the act occurred but took into account the man's explanation that he suffers from a form of dermatitis. The judge found it plausible that he unthinkingly exposed himself to scratch an itch.

Source (Japanese)

[Ganma]

[Coligny]

. The judge found it plausible that he unthinkingly exposed himself to scratch an itch.

Source (Japanese)

I don't know why we focus so much hatred toward lawyers when most of the times the problems comes from fucked up judges with a god complex and total hatred toward civilisation.

This judge clearly deserve a cushionned cell in a Russian asylum (or worse, Romanian). Or at least to be obliged to do his grocery shopping by himself...

[Dragonette]

[Mike Oxlong]

It was my simplified understanding the judges here went through a specific stream in a law dept. at uni, and boom! after four years they are "judges"...no work as a lawyer first to get some breadth and depth of experience. Perhaps someone with a more thorough understanding could fill in a few gaps?

[IparryU]

It was my simplified understanding the judges here went through a specific stream in a law dept. at uni, and boom! after four years they are "judges"...no work as a lawyer first to get some breadth and depth of experience. Perhaps someone with a more thorough understanding could fill in a few gaps?

i would say that after all that you explained above there would be a game of janken to determine the finalist for the judge line up if there were too many contestants but not enough spots...

janken solves everything here in japland... wouldn't be surprized if all the PMs in the last decade were decided that way either...

[Fullback]

Many years ago, a young female lawyer (cough) friend who's father was a judge told me that most judges here come from the ranks of lawyers who are incompetent in some fashion. Her father had a stroke and was given a bench seat as a gift, but she said he was not up to the job at all.

She also said that orientations for judges include lectures to promote unpredictable and illogical decisions. Apparently being predictable reduces the mystique and power of the job.

She was smart, but could not pass the bar exam until reaching the age ordained by "the elders."

[dimwit]

Many years ago, a young female lawyer (cough) friend who's father was a judge told me that most judges here come from the ranks of lawyers who are incompetent in some fashion. Her father had a stroke and was given a bench seat as a gift, but she said he was not up to the job at all.

No Mike O. is correct. I happen to have spent a fair amount of time drinking with one of the local judges. To become a judge you take a different stream in law. From there, there are three grades of judges, I assume based on seniority. This is why at trials you always see a young judge, an middle aged judge and older judge at criminal trials. Generally to become a senior judge, it takes between 10-20 years of experience.

People can be appointed arbitrators in disputes, such as divorces but they would never be involved in criminal trials.