"The group, which includes 300 barristers and 22 retired judges, warns that the government is attempting to force through an unpopular, untested and poorly evidenced change to our jury system that will not address the soaring court backlog, which has left victims waiting up to four years for justice."
"Kirsty Brimelow KC, Bar Council chair, said it was not too late for the government to listen to the unequivocal opposition from the legal sector and stop before bulldozing our jury system."
"Ministers introduced legislation to parliament last month to overhaul the courts system and bring down the backlog of nearly 80,000 crown court cases by replacing juries with judge-only trials for some crimes."
More than 3,200 legal professionals, including 300 barristers and 22 retired judges, have formally opposed the government's proposal to remove jury trial rights for crimes likely receiving sentences under three years. The legal sector argues the plan is unpopular, untested, and poorly evidenced, failing to address the actual problem of soaring court backlogs that leave victims waiting years for justice. Dozens of Labour MPs threaten to vote against the Courts and Tribunals Bill unless reforms are watered down. The government introduced legislation to replace juries with judge-only trials for certain crimes to reduce nearly 80,000 crown court cases. Additional measures include unlimited court sitting days, blitz courts, and increased AI use to expedite the justice system.
#jury-trial-reform #court-backlog-crisis #legal-opposition #criminal-justice-system #parliamentary-debate
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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