Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
9 days ago
- #jury-trials
- #justice-reform
- #court-backlog
- Jury trials in England and Wales for crimes with sentences under three years will be scrapped.
- Reforms include 'swift courts' to tackle court delays, with serious crimes like murder and rape still going before juries.
- Community magistrates will handle more cases, while jury-free trials and out-of-court settlements are proposed.
- David Lammy calls the reforms 'bold' and 'necessary,' but critics argue it's the 'beginning of the end of jury trials.'
- Reforms aim to speed up cases by 20%, addressing a backlog projected to reach 100,000 by 2028.
- Defendants' right to jury trials will be restricted to prevent 'gaming the system,' with fraud cases also losing jury trials.
- Critics, including barristers, say cuts to the Ministry of Justice, not jury trials, are the real issue.
- Ethnic minorities reportedly feel they get fairer hearings with juries than with magistrates alone.
- Opponents argue reforms risk eroding trust in justice, particularly in complex or sensitive cases.