David Lammy announces plans to scrap juries in thousand of cases
David Lammy has announced the establishment of new “fast-track courts” where one judge will rule on thousands of cases.
The justice minister has announced sweeping reforms to the criminal court system, including possibly eliminating juries in cases that could result in sentences of three years or less.
Mr Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, stressed that juries remain “essential” and outlined plans to reduce their use in a bid to tackle the backlog in the courts.
But he told MPs the gridlock meant there was a crisis of confidence in the justice system and accepted recommendations in retired judge Sir Brian Leveson’s review of the system to limit the right to a jury trial.
Announcing the criminal court reform in the House of Commons, Mr Lammy said: “I will create new fast track courts within the crown court, as Sir Brian (Leveson) has recommended, where there will be a single judge making decisions in cases likely to carry sentences of three years or less.
“Sir Brian [Leveson] “estimates they will deliver justice at least 20 percent faster than jury trials, and while jury deliberations remain private, judges provide reasons for their decisions in open court, so this will strengthen transparency in our new approach.”
Mr Lammy said the new system would resolve cases one-fifth faster than jury trials. He said caseloads are required to reach 100,000 by 2028, as in current projections.
“Investments are not enough,” he said.
But Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick hit back at Mr Lammy, accusing him of “twisted logic” and saying he opposed removing the right to a jury trial.
He accused him of “shattering Magna Carta” and abandoning his principles, having previously defended juries while in government.
“This year alone, 21,000 court dates have been missed and the court backlog has increased by 10 per cent,” he said.
“David Lammy should get his own department in order rather than deprive British citizens of ancient freedoms.”
According to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), almost half of the backlog of cases consists of violent and sexual offenses, and only about 3 percent of criminal cases are currently heard by a judge and jury.
As part of the announcement, £550 million will be given to victim support services over the next three years to assist victims and witnesses through the justice process, for example through counseling and advice on attending court.
Baroness Helen Newlove, the deceased victims’ commissioner, has repeatedly raised concerns about victim services, saying in October that “support can be the difference between a victim staying engaged or drifting away from the justice process.”
An annual survey of victims by the Watchdog found that less than half of respondents were confident that the criminal justice system was effective or that they could achieve justice by reporting a crime.
New victims commissioner Claire Waxman, who will take up the role in the new year, welcomed the Ministry of Justice funding as a “necessary step” but added: “The amounts committed are not a silver bullet for the wider crisis facing the sector.”
“Ultimately, these services are vital to the recovery of the victim and will be equally important to the recovery of the justice system as a whole,” he said.
Former Law Society president Richard Atkinson said the extra funding was welcome but “only plugs the cracks and does not address the fundamental problems”.
The Bar Council had previously called on Mr Lammy not to replace juries with single judges, warning that this could undermine public confidence.
Mr Lammy also signaled he could expand the powers of judges to take on more serious cases and questioned whether defendants in “either way” cases could choose to have a jury trial in a media tour ahead of his announcement to Parliament.
