Is this a scam, or real?

It is real — an official notice the Supreme Court sends each year to people placed on next year's lay-judge candidate list. ⛔ However, calls or texts that exploit this to say 'you've been selected; it costs money to be excused' are scams. The court never asks for money.

Do I have to go to court right now?

No. This is a notice that you are on the candidate list; no appearance is needed at this point. Only if you are actually selected for a case does a 呼出状 arrive later, with a date to attend.

I can't serve because of work or family.

You can state a request to be excused, and your reasons (important work, study, caregiving, illness, age, etc.), on the enclosed 調査票 or a later questionnaire. What is accepted is defined, so fill in and submit as instructed.

Legal / Court

裁判員候補者名簿 Notice: Japan Lay-Judge (Saiban-in) Candidate Notice Explained

A 裁判員候補者名簿への記載のお知らせ is a genuine notice from the Supreme Court (最高裁判所) telling you that your name was placed on next year's list of candidate lay judges (裁判員). ⛔ It looks alarming because it is unfamiliar, but it is an official notice, not a scam. It only means you are a candidate — you do not need to go to court now, and you will not necessarily serve. If you are actually chosen for a specific case, a separate summons (呼出状) comes later. A 調査票 (questionnaire) is often enclosed, asking about reasons you might be excused or legally unable to serve.

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Watch for scams

⛔ Beware scams that exploit the lay-judge system: calls, texts or automated voices that say 'you've been selected as a lay judge' or 'it costs money to be excused / absent', create fear, and demand payment, are scams. The genuine notice comes by post from the Supreme Court and never asks for money. Don't respond to suspicious contact; verify with the Consumer Hotline (188), the police advice line (#9110), or the court's official channel.

Who receives it

Lay judges are chosen from people with voting rights (for House of Representatives elections), via a randomly drawn candidate list — so eligibility is, in principle, for Japanese nationals. ⛔ Foreign nationals are generally not subject to this system, so if you are a foreign national and get a call demanding money 'about jury duty', treat it as a scam. The notice is sent around November each year, by the Supreme Court, to people placed on that year's list.

What to do

1Check that the sender is the 最高裁判所 (Supreme Court) and that the content is a notice that you were placed on next year's candidate list.
2You do not need to go to court now. Being a candidate is a first step; whether you actually serve is decided later, per case.
3If a 調査票 (questionnaire) is enclosed, fill in any request to be excused or reasons you cannot serve (work, study, caregiving, illness, etc.) and return it by the stated deadline.
4Keep the notice in case a 呼出状 (summons) arrives later.
5If anything is unclear or a suspicious message arrives, verify via the contact on the notice or the official Supreme Court / District Court channels.

About the deadline

There is nothing to pay by a deadline. But if a 調査票 is enclosed, return it by the stated deadline. If you are later selected as a candidate for a case, the follow-up 呼出状 will specify the date to attend the selection procedure. How to raise scheduling difficulties (e.g. work) is explained on the notice or court guidance.

Common misunderstandings

Is this a scam, or real?: It is real — an official notice the Supreme Court sends each year to people placed on next year's lay-judge candidate list. ⛔ However, calls or texts that exploit this to say 'you've been selected; it costs money to be excused' are scams. The court never asks for money.
Do I have to go to court right now?: No. This is a notice that you are on the candidate list; no appearance is needed at this point. Only if you are actually selected for a case does a 呼出状 arrive later, with a date to attend.
I can't serve because of work or family.: You can state a request to be excused, and your reasons (important work, study, caregiving, illness, age, etc.), on the enclosed 調査票 or a later questionnaire. What is accepted is defined, so fill in and submit as instructed.
I'm a foreign national — am I subject to this?: Lay judges are chosen from people with voting rights, so in principle it applies to Japanese nationals. Foreign nationals are generally not subject to this notice. If you are a foreign national and get contacted 'about jury duty' demanding payment, treat it as a scam.

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