Britain’s barristers have voiced their opposition to Labour’s plans to scrap jury trials, urging Sir Keir Starmer to “change course”. The Telegraph has more.
The bodies representing barristers in the UK and the Republic of Ireland have told the Prime Minister that they are “deeply concerned” by the Government’s proposals.
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, provoked an outcry after announcing plans this month to scrap half of all jury trials as part of radical plans to bring down crown court backlogs.
Defendants in cases involving crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will no longer have the option of having a jury trial.
Now, the Four Bars have warned that restricting jury trials would undermine public trust in the criminal justice system, adding there was “no evidence” the changes would bring down court backlogs.
In a rare joint statement, the heads of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Scotland’s Faculty of Advocates, the Bar of Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland said: “The curtailment of jury trials has predictable negative consequences, including undermining the public’s trust and confidence in our criminal justice systems.
“Trial by a jury is long established and respected throughout the common law world for its veneration of democratic ideals, its age, gender and ethnic inclusiveness, and its respect for citizens’ and judges’ roles in the administration of justice.”
Under the Justice Secretary’s plans, magistrates’ powers will be increased to be able to hand down sentences of up to 18 months’ imprisonment, up from 12 months currently.
Only defendants accused of crimes likely to merit sentences of more than five years, such as murder, rape, other serious sexual offences, terrorism, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm and possession of firearms, would be entitled to have their case heard before a jury.
The changes will mean that just 1.5 per cent of all cases, an estimated one in 66, will be heard before a jury.
The announcement was made with fierce opposition from the Tories and several members of the legal profession.
There is also disquiet among some Labour backbenchers at the plans, spearheaded by Karl Turner, the Labour MP for East Hull.
The MP, who studied to become a barrister before his political career, wrote on X on Monday about the plans: “I didn’t ever feel like I had to break the whip under [Jeremy Corbyn’s] leadership.
“Makes one wonder the direction [Labour] is heading in when it’s under [Sir Keir] that I have no option but to say that I’d have to break the whip.”
Worth reading in full.
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