The UK is looking at introducing law to permit trial without jury, likelyl to be introduced in the coming weeks, although it is a temporary ‘fix’.
The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC told MPs on the justice select committee that operating either-way cases without juries is now under serious discussion, as the backlog of cases forces radical change to the criminal justice system in the UK.
The legislation would need to be intorduced before the UK parliament goes into recess on July 31.
The Lord Chancellor said that 200 extra sites were required to deal with the increase in the number of cases waiting to be heard, with 10 alternative venues signed off this week.
Buckland described trials with just a judge and two magistrates as a ‘last resort’ but said this option would provide an extra 40 per cent capacity within the system to permit a reduction in thge backlog. His preferred option, which is to reduce the number of jurors to seven, would increase capacity by only 5-10 per cent.
He also said that a one judge-two magistrates option would apply only to cases where the maximum sentence is two years’ imprisonment.
Two-thirds capacity isn’t going to cut it – I am going to need at least 100 per cent capacity
He confirmed that the government wants to implement one of the two options by September, which would require primary legislation to be brought forward before parliament goes into recess on 21 July.
Buckland also stated that other options are being actively explored including longer operating hours and opening courts at weekends.
He told MPs: ‘I am absolutely duty-bound to look at measures that deliver the capacity we need. Two-thirds capacity isn’t going to cut it – I am going to need at least 100 per cent capacity not just to manage the case load but to get ahead of it as well.’
On judge-led trials, he added: ‘If it is done it would be temporary and not be the basis for a permanent change.’
Despite repeated references to the backlog, the committee heard that the number of outstanding more serious cases has only increased slightly since the start of lockdown, from 39,214 in the Crown court in March to 40,526 on 24 May. But the number of cases waiting in the magistrates’ courts has risen over that period from 406,610 to almost 484,000.
Following Buckland’s appearance, the Criminal Bar Association said that trial by jury was now under ‘imminent threat’, and it urged practitioners to share their views on the proposals.
Simon Davis, Law Society president said that to interfere with such a bedrock of the criminal justice system was an extreme measure that required extreme justification.
‘There was a substantial backlog in existence at the time jury trials were suspended, contributed to by restrictions in sitting days, but not one which was seen as justifying moving away from jury trials themselves.
‘Reducing jury numbers and using non-court buildings for additional court rooms are preferable solutions to tackling the backlog than restricting jury trials, especially given the reduction in social distancing measures announced today.’
Source: LawGazette.co.uk
