ST. PETERSBURG, May 20 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that limits to trial by jury for minors do not contradict the constitution, the court said.
The ruling followed a complaint from an underage Russian whose murder case can no longer be heard at a district jury trial court.

District jury trial courts currently hear many cases that were previously the domain of the regional courts, with the exception of cases that could result in a life sentence. At the time when the complainant filed his suit, he was underage and hence could not be sentenced to life.

“By approving controversial provisions, the legislators gave underage defendants the right to request that their cases be heard by a board of three federal judges, and also increased the opportunities for appealing against court rulings,” the court materials read. “Therefore, the removal of such cases from the jurisdiction of jury trial courts cannot be seen as infringing on the legal protection of minors.”

The Constitutional Court pointed out that jury verdicts can only be appealed if legal procedure was violated but not if there are doubts about the factual side of the case.

The defendants who consider standing a jury trial should carefully analyze all the aspects and legal implications of their decision.