Sir Brian Leveson proposed significant reforms for the criminal courts to address the backlog of nearly 77,000 cases. He advocated for judge-only trials for specific offenses such as fraud and bribery, which he believes could alleviate the pressure on the system. Sir Brian also recommended more out-of-court resolutions and restructuring the Crown Court by introducing a new division with magistrates to handle less serious offenses. These recommendations aimed to accelerate case processing and ensure fair decision-making while maintaining the right to a fair trial.
Sir Brian suggested 'fundamental' reforms to 'reduce the risk of total system collapse' in the criminal courts, proposing judge-only trials for certain cases.
There are almost 77,000 cases waiting for trial in the Crown Court in England and Wales, causing delays in justice for defendants and victims.
Sir Brian noted the proposed changes are designed 'to transform our courts into a system that provides appropriate and fair decision-making'.
According to Sir Brian, 'justice delayed is justice denied,' with victims, witnesses, and defendants waiting months, sometimes years, for cases to come to trial.
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