Middlesex Vicinage Welcomes Judge Yuki Ito of Japan

The Middlesex Vicinage will host Judge Yuki Ito of Japan as part of the Judiciary’s Japanese Judge Program.

Judge Ito, who has been touring vicinages across the state, will visit the Middlesex Vicinage from Monday, Feb. 5 to Friday, Feb. 23.

The Japanese Judge Program began in 1972 as the result of the efforts of Edward B. McConnell, who was administrative director of the courts at the time, and the Supreme Court of Japan. The program was designed to help Japan’s judges between the ages of 25 and 30 gain broader insight into the administration of justice by studying foreign jurisdictions. The Supreme Court of Japan selects one participant each year.

Judge Ito is the 52nd judge to participate in the program. He is from the Kagoshima District Court and was appointed to the bench in 2017. His primary focus is civil and criminal proceedings. Judge Ito has indicated that he is especially interested in learning about the practices involving technology, the differences between how countries use it differently, and how difficulties were resolved. Judge Ito also showed interest in the treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in criminal and juvenile cases.