Radical Overhaul of Jury System Proposed
The government is preparing to unveil the most significant restrictions to jury service in generations, with plans that would see juries reserved exclusively for the most serious criminal cases including murder, rape and manslaughter.
Ministers have declared a "crisis" in the criminal justice system and promise bold action will be announced imminently to address the mounting problems.
Leaked Plans Reveal Sweeping Changes
According to a leaked memo from Justice Secretary David Lammy to fellow ministers, seen by the Times, the government is examining proposals to scrap jury trials in all but the most serious cases. The majority of criminal cases would instead be heard solely by a judge.
The memo states there is "no right" to jury trials in the UK and argues that drastic measures are essential to reduce the crown court backlog, which currently stands at nearly 80,000 cases.
A government spokesman confirmed changes are forthcoming to deal with the backlog but noted that the measures outlined in the memo have not yet achieved cross-government agreement.
Controversial Measures Face Strong Opposition
The proposed changes go significantly further than recommendations made by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Brian Leveson, who suggested during the summer that many serious offences could be dealt with by a judge alone or a judge with two magistrates.
While Sir Brian proposed a new intermediate court called the Crown Court Bench Division for cases with maximum sentences of three years, the leaked plans suggest offences likely to receive sentences of up to five years would be heard by judges alone.
The proposals have already drawn fierce criticism from opposition figures and legal professionals. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned the move "risks fairness, undermines public trust and erodes the very foundation of our justice system".
The Criminal Bar Association expressed even stronger concerns, stating the plans would "eviscerate the jury trial as we know it".
When Mr Lammy assumed his position in September, he identified the courts as his priority crisis to tackle, following his predecessor Shabana Mahmood's focus on the immediate prison overcrowding emergency.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: "No final decision has been taken by government. We have been clear there is a crisis in the courts, causing pain and anguish to victims - with 78,000 cases in the backlog and rising - which will require bold action to put right."
The government is expected to present its comprehensive plans to address the court backlog within the coming weeks.
