What's happened
On December 2, 2025, UK Justice Secretary David Lammy announced plans to drastically reduce jury trials in England and Wales to address a Crown Court backlog nearing 80,000 cases. Jury trials will be reserved for serious crimes like murder, rape, and manslaughter, while lesser offences will be tried by judges alone or magistrates. The reforms follow Sir Brian Leveson's review but go further, sparking opposition from legal professionals and MPs.
What's behind the headline?
Radical Shift in Criminal Justice
The proposed reforms mark a fundamental change in England and Wales' criminal justice system, curtailing the centuries-old right to trial by jury for thousands of defendants. While intended to tackle an unprecedented backlog and speed up justice, the move risks undermining public trust and fairness.
Behind the Reform
The backlog, projected to reach 100,000 cases by 2028, has left victims waiting years, with many withdrawing complaints, especially in sexual offences. Lammy's approach follows Leveson's recommendations but goes further by removing jury trials for many "either-way" offences and complex fraud cases.
Controversy and Opposition
Legal bodies like the Criminal Bar Association and Bar Council warn these changes could increase miscarriages of justice and disproportionately affect minority defendants. Critics argue the backlog stems from systemic underfunding rather than jury trials.
Political Dynamics
Lammy's proposals have faced cabinet pushback, leading to a partial retreat on the scope of jury trial removals. Opposition politicians emphasize preserving ancient liberties and call for increased court resources instead.
Forecast and Impact
The reforms will likely speed case processing but at the cost of reducing lay participation in justice. This could reshape defendants' rights and public confidence in the system. The £550 million victim support funding aims to mitigate some harms but is unlikely to fully address systemic issues.
What This Means for You
For defendants, fewer will have the option of jury trials, potentially altering trial dynamics. Victims may see faster resolutions but also face a justice system in flux. The reforms signal a shift towards judge-led trials, aligning England and Wales more with other European systems but challenging long-standing British legal traditions.
What the papers say
The Guardian's Rajeev Syal highlights the backlash within Labour, quoting MPs like Stella Creasy and Diane Abbott who warn of miscarriages of justice and class bias. Syal also notes Lammy's defense of the reforms as necessary to prevent system collapse. Al Jazeera emphasizes the government's rationale, citing the backlog and the creation of "swift courts" to speed trials, while noting the watered-down scope after cabinet feedback. The Mirror focuses on victim support funding and the emotional toll of delays, quoting Lammy's call to end the "courts emergency." The Independent and Sky News provide context on the leaked memo and the political controversy, including criticism from Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and legal groups like the Bar Council. The New York Times underscores the unprecedented delays and the government's intent to modernize court processes. Together, these sources paint a picture of a government grappling with a justice crisis, balancing reform urgency against tradition and fairness concerns.
How we got here
The UK Crown Court faces a record backlog of nearly 80,000 cases, with some trials delayed until 2029. Sir Brian Leveson's July 2025 review recommended limiting jury trials to serious offences and creating a new intermediate court. Lammy's proposals aim to modernize the system and reduce delays, but critics warn of risks to justice and fairness.
Go deeper
- What are the main reasons for cutting jury trials in England and Wales?
- How will these reforms affect defendants and victims?
- What opposition has the government faced regarding these changes?
Common question
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Why Is the UK Court System Changing Jury Trial Rules?
The UK government is planning significant reforms to its court system, including limiting jury trials to only the most serious cases like murder and rape. This move aims to tackle a record-high backlog of nearly 80,000 cases, which has caused delays extending into 2030. But why are these changes happening now, and what do they mean for justice in the UK? Below, we explore the reasons behind the reforms, how judge-only trials will work, and what critics are saying about fairness and trust in the justice system.
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Why is the UK reducing jury trials?
The UK government is planning to cut back on jury trials in England and Wales, focusing only on the most serious cases like murder and rape. This move aims to tackle a huge backlog of cases that has overwhelmed the courts. But why is this happening, and what does it mean for justice? Below, we explore the reasons behind these changes, how they might impact fairness, and what the future holds for UK courts.
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More on these topics
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David Lindon Lammy PC FRSA is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000, and has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020.
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Sir Brian Henry Leveson ( LEV-iss-ən; born 22 June 1949) is an English retired senior judge who is the current Investigatory Powers Commissioner, having previously served as the President of the Queen's Bench Division and Head of Criminal Justice.
Leveso
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Robert Edward Jenrick is a British Conservative Party politician serving as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2019. He has served as Member of Parliament for Newark since 2014.
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The Labour Party, commonly Labour, is one of the two main political parties in the United Kingdom, along with the Conservative Party. It sits on the centre-left of the left–right political spectrum, and has been described as an alliance of social democr
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.