US EditionJury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
The reform aims to reduce court delays and manage 100,000 projected Crown Court cases by 2028 by replacing jury trials with judge verdicts for sentences under three years.
- On Tuesday, Justice Secretary David Lammy announced in the Commons that jury trials will be scrapped for 'either way' offences likely to carry sentences of three years or less.
- Mounting Crown Court backlogs have pushed caseloads toward 100,000 by 2028 from almost 78,000, with some suspects facing trial dates as late as 2030 and six out of 10 victims of rape withdrawing prosecutions due to delays.
- The package creates 'swift courts' and requires judges to publish public reasons, while volunteer community magistrates will take on more cases and defendants' jury rights will be limited.
- Lammy retreated from a leaked earlier plan reported to the BBC and The Times, confirming that serious offences remain jury trials and cases will be 20% faster.
- There are around 1.3m prosecutions each year in England and Wales, with 10% going to Crown Court and three out of 10 resulting in trials, but barristers say Ministry of Justice cuts caused backlogs.
57 Articles
57 Articles
David Lammy Pledges to Slash Jury Trials
David Lammy is expected to announce reforms that would see jury trials ended for sentences of three years or less. Plus: Rachel Reeves is under pressure over budget “lies”, and we discuss Zack Polanski’s economic influences. With Aaron Bastani and Kieran Andrieu.…
Lammy mounts pitiful defence of jury trials
In a parliamentary speech today, justice secretary David Lammy confirmed that he will go ahead to scrap plans to remove the right to trial by jury for thousands of ‘either-way’ cases – that is, trials which could take place either at the Crown or Magistrates Courts. The plan has been widely derided by rival politicians, the public, and even professionals from the justice system itself. However, none of that seems set to stop the deputy prime mi…
UK Govt Confirms End of Right to Trial by Jury in Thousands of Cases.
PULSE POINTSWHAT HAPPENED: British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has confirmed “reforms” to the criminal justice system in England and Wales, including “swift courts” where judges will decide verdicts in many cases without a jury.WHO WAS INVOLVED: David Lammy, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, other Members of Parliament (MPs), and legal professionals such as Judge Jane Miller KC.WHEN & WHERE: Announced in Parliament on Tuesday, the reforms t…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 70% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
