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Restricting jury trials will undermine free speech, Lammy warned
Justice secretary David Lammy aims to reduce an 80,000-case backlog by trying some either-way offences before a single judge instead of juries, improving court efficiency, he said.
- The Free Speech Union warns that removing jury trials will threaten freedom of speech, stating a judge alone is more likely to convict defendants than a jury.
- Justice Secretary David Lammy claims that reducing the backlog of over 80,000 cases is necessary, stating that failing to do so would harm victims of serious crimes.
- Research indicates that juries provide fairer outcomes, with a 75% acquittal rate for defendants in free speech cases when juries are involved, compared to much lower rates in magistrate courts.
- Critics argue that abolishing jury trials undermines British liberties established over 800 years, calling it the biggest assault on freedoms in 800 years.
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left1Leaning Right4Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Right
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources lean Right
66% Right
L 17%
C 17%
R 66%
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