1 hr ago
Britain Abandons Criticized Plans to Curb Jury Trials
The government has dropped a plan that would have taken away jury trials for some less serious criminal cases.
Many lawyers and politicians had criticized the plan.
The justice secretary said the government had listened and changed direction.
Lawyers welcomed that decision, but they still have worries about other proposed changes.
One change would let magistrates give longer sentences.
Another would remove some defendants’ choice to have a jury trial.
The government still plans to allow judges alone to hear complex fraud cases.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of jury-trial cases are waiting for hearings, and some people wait years for justice.
The government abandoned plans to remove jury trials for less serious criminal cases after sustained criticism.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he had changed course after hearing strong opposition to more judge-alone trials.
The government will retain plans for judge-only trials in complex fraud cases.
Lawyers welcomed the reversal but raised concerns about increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers and removing defendants’ right to elect jury trial.
Nearly 81,000 jury-trial cases were awaiting a hearing in Crown Courts in England and Wales at the end of June, almost double the 2020 figure.
- Who
- The British government, led on the policy change by Justice Secretary Alex Norris, and lawyers opposing the plans.
- What
- The government abandoned plans to curb jury trials in less serious criminal cases, while retaining plans for judge-only trials in complex fraud cases.
- Where
- Britain; the cited Crown Court backlog is in England and Wales.
- When
- The announcement was reported on October 4; the year is not specified in the article.
- Why
- The government said it had heard strong opposition to increasing judge-alone trials; critics argued the plan threatened defendants’ rights and that under-investment, not jury trials, was behind court delays.
Supporters of the changes
Critics of the changes
Reducing jury trials
Supporters of the changes
Supporters of the original plan, including former justice minister David Lammy, argued that reducing jury trials could speed up justice.
Critics of the changes
Critics said restricting jury trials would curtail a fundamental right and argued that years of neglect and under-investment, rather than jury trials, caused delays.
Magistrates’ powers
Supporters of the changes
The government plans to increase magistrates’ sentencing powers as part of its approach to the justice system.
Critics of the changes
The Criminal Bar Association and Bar Council raised concerns that expanded powers could be counterproductive, particularly as the magistrates’ court backlog is increasing.
Judge-only fraud trials
Supporters of the changes
The government will retain the proposal for complex fraud cases to be tried by a judge alone, an approach intended to avoid jurors sitting through lengthy cases.
Critics of the changes
A government-commissioned review this year rejected the idea, and the article notes that lawyers have raised concerns about changes that increase judge-alone trials.
Key facts
- Policy change
- Plans to remove jury trials for less serious criminal cases were abandoned.
- Proposed sentencing change
- The government plans to increase magistrates’ sentencing powers.
- Complex fraud cases
- Plans for complex fraud trials to be heard by a judge alone will remain.
- Crown Court backlog
- Nearly 81,000 cases awaiting jury trial in England and Wales at the end of June.
- Comparison
- The reported backlog was almost double the figure in 2020.
- Reported date
- October 4; no year is stated.
Quotes
Andrew Thomas
Chair of the Criminal Bar Association
“I have heard the strength of feeling on the proposals for increasing the number of judge-alone trials in the Crown Court and have made the decision to change course.”
theprint.in
“listening to the evidence and reaching the right verdict”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
UK Prison Overcrowding Renews Debate Over Jury Trials
Justice Bhuyan Criticises Frivolous Cases, Custodial Violence and Pressure
Supreme Court to Urgently List PIL on Lawmakers’ Criminal Cases
Bengal SIR Tribunal Judge Threatens Resignation Over Massive Backlog
Lindsay Clancy Trial Nears Mistrial After Juror Dispute
Minister Proposes Tougher Parenting Orders for Children’s Crimes
Manslaughter Killers Barred From Early Release After Intervention
