「司法是正義的最後一道防線」健全而穩固的司法體制係維繫社會安定秩序的磐石。對制度陌生所生的不信任感，是司法難以獲得人民信賴的重要原因。如何提昇人民對於司法的信賴，是司法的重要課題。「司法民主化」係近來發展的趨勢，司法民主化最有效的方式即係由人民直接參與審判，以消弭民眾對司法公正之疑慮，提昇民眾對司法的信賴。是以，引進民眾參與司法審判的制度，不僅符合世界發展之趨勢，更可提昇我國司法的公信力。司法院目前正大力地推動「人民觀審制」，一項新制度的引進成功與否，不僅涉及制度，更涉及文化背景、價值設定及功能實現等層面。現今採參審制之國家以德國最具代表性，我國刑事訴訟法之基本架構係繼受德國法而來，歷來司法院研擬人民參與司法審判的各項草案，均有德國參審制的影子。參審制或陪審制，其係與各自國家的政治文化背景與法律制度相適應所建立，兩者並無孰優孰劣，僅有適合需要與否之分。本文焦點在參審制度於德國各個歷史階段之演變，並針對德國現行參審制之運作進行概要的說明。本文的目的在於，針對「參審制」發展的歷史脈絡作較詳細之說明，以使讀者能更有效地掌握，在批判上不再動輒淪為陪審團制的思維，而生不見容參審制之偏見。
It is said that the judiciary is the last line of defense for justice. A fair and stable legal system is the foundation of social order. The public currently lacks faith in Taiwan's legal system. Distrust is derived from lack of familiarity with the trial system, rather than from the quality of the judiciary. This unfamiliarity is the critical reason why the judicial branch can't earn the trust of the majority of Taiwan's citizens. Therefore, the most important task in reforming our legal system is to restore people's confidence in the judiciary. The global trend is to improve legal systems by democratizing them. The best method to democratize a legal system is to allow people to participate in trials. Citizens' direct involvement in trials will help clear up the public's doubts about the credibility of the judiciary. At the same time, public participation will promote public trust in the system. It also can educate the public about the idea of law and order. In short, the introduction of popular participation in the administration of the justice system not only conforms with the global trend of judicial rights, but also enhances the credibility of Taiwan's judicial system.The judicial branch is now vigorously promoting a system of public observation of trials. Whether the newly introduced system will be successful or not remains to be seen and will depend not only on pure procedural factors but also on culture, values and functional issues.The Lay Participation System was utilized in Germany throughout its early history and the Middle Ages. The lay judge system facilitates public participation in criminal trials. Citizens play a role alongside the judges in determining the guilt or innocence of the accused as well as the penalty for guilt. Public participation in criminal trials ensures that common sense is not lost in the administration of justice. and is the best way to promote a more substantial democracy and deepen public trust in the judiciary. This thesis attempts to advance our understand of the system of lay judges in Germany, especially its evolution in various historical stages.
