"Waxman said she understood the strength of feeling in the legal profession over jury trials, but said an obstructive and unhelpful discourse could plunge the system into deeper chaos. On Monday, the Guardian reported that proposals to limit jury trials could be watered down after a backlash, but Waxman said any U-turn risked collapsing the system and she didn't think the government could do it."
"Waxman added that critics could shout and scream and hope for a U-turn, but there was no other viable proposal to drastically reduce the backlog. If you row back on this, we will see a backlog of 100,000, of 125,000, she said. That is a public safety issue. Victims will not stay six, seven years in the justice process. The justice system will no longer function, it will collapse, it is already on the brink."
A potential government reversal on plans to reduce jury trials risks breaking a justice system already on the brink of collapse. Proposals include judge-only trials for complex fraud, magistrates-only hearings for offences with maximum two-year sentences, and a new criminal court where judges hear cases alone. The changes aim to reduce a massive backlog and prevent 100,000–125,000 unresolved cases. Court backlogs, crumbling courtrooms and day-of-trial adjournments contribute to unacceptable delays. Strong opposition from the legal profession risks blocking the reforms. A U-turn on jury reductions could cause the system to collapse and deter victims from engaging with criminal justice due to multi-year waits.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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