The Government has announced the removal of the cap on court sitting days to address a backlog of 80,000 criminal cases. Justice Secretary David Lammy said that every Crown Court in England and Wales will be funded to maximise case hearings next year. Crown courts will be able to hear as many cases as possible as a limit on sitting days will be axed under a £2.8bn settlement with the judiciary. The Criminal Bar Association welcomed the decision, calling it a “brave and significant first step,” but highlighted a need to recruit and retain criminal barristers and solicitors. Richard Atkinson, from the Law Society, welcomed the lifting of restrictions on court sitting days as a “step in the right direction” but insisted that “lasting reform requires sustained funding for court capacity and the legal profession.” Mr Lammy also confirmed that ministers will axe half of jury trials, increase the number of video court hearings and roll-out the use of AI. However, analysis shows that it could take almost 10 years for the backlog to drop below 50,000. Courts Minister Sarah Sackman said: “By the end of this Parliament, we’ll start to see it heading in the right direction” so the public “can have confidence the Government is doing everything it can.”
