Jury reforms could impact 95% of criminal cases

With a leaked memo revealing that Justice Secretary David Lammy is considering reforms that would scrap jury trials for most offences – apart from murder, rape or manslaughter cases – Criminal Bar Association (CBA) analysis shows that this would mean around 95% of criminal cases would not be heard before jurors. The proposal for a lower-tier court aims to tackle the Crown Court backlog, which now stands at a record 78,329 cases. Lawyers, MPs, and legal bodies have voiced concern over the proposal, warning that the plan is a threat to centuries-old constitutional protections. CBA chair Riel Karmy-Jones KC warns the reforms would “destroy justice as we know it,” raising the risk of miscarriages of justice and undermining public confidence. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch – along with 54 other MPs have written to the Government, demanding an increase court sitting days. David Hardstaff, partner at BCL Solicitors, said: “Curtailment of jury trials has generally been reserved for exceptional circumstances, such as war or force of terrorism,” adding: “The idea of jury trials being pared back in peacetime suggests a failure of governance. It is a symptom of national crisis.”