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COVID-19: Jury debate

23 June 2020
Issue: 7892 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
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Jury trials have resumed at a further five courts, bringing the total up to 16

Chelmsford, Croydon, Guildford, Hull and Mold Crown Courts have all been assessed as safe by the Jury Trial Working Group.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) is polling its members amid concerns ministers could authorise temporary changes to jury laws so they can make headway on the backlog of cases that have built up. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett told the Justice Select Committee this week that the idea of suspending juries for less serious cases is being seriously considered and legislation could be passed within weeks. 

CBA chair Caroline Goodwin QC told criminal barristers this week: ‘The principle of trial by jury is sacrosanct, there may be those who seek to force upon us imminent change.

‘The use of a judge and two magistrates dealing with triable either way offences would be a change for the worse.’

 

Issue: 7892 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
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