header-logo header-logo

Barristers reject Leveson plans

30 July 2025
Issue: 8127 / Categories: Legal News , Criminal
printer mail-detail
Criminal barristers have firmly rebuffed Sir Brian Leveson’s proposals to restrict jury trials and move a tranche of cases to a judge sitting with two magistrates

A seven-day snapshot survey commissioned by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and conducted by Professor Katrin Hohl, City of St George’s, University of London, received a weighty response, with 2,029 criminal barristers taking part.

In her Monday Message this week, CBA chair Mary Prior KC said 93% opposed removing the right to appeal a judge’s decision to move a case to the new Crown Court Bench Division (CCBD) rather than offer a jury trial, and 78% opposed judge-only trials for complex and serious fraud.

Some 92% and 91%, respectively, opposed allowing CCBD cases to include sexual offences against children, and sexual offences against adults.

84% opposed the removal of a defendant’s automatic right to appeal against conviction from the magistrates’ court, and 86% were against CCBDs hearing cases involving violence against women and girls, including stalking and voyeurism.

Sir Brian’s 388-page Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1, published last month, proposed that defendants facing a maximum sentence of two years or less be able to opt out of jury trials and instead be heard by a judge and two magistrates—a new court division, the CCBD. He suggested defendants lose the right to an automatic right to appeal and that jury trials be dispensed with for serious and complex fraud cases.

Asked for their top two priorities for the justice system, 82% of CBA members said increasing Crown Court sitting days, and 71% said increasing court efficiency by ensuring prisoners reach court in time, Wi-Fi, audio and video equipment works and any interpreters required are present. 27% said Crown Court judges should have a background in criminal law, and 10% voted to fix the leaks, lifts and other building disrepairs.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll