Government plans to slash Crown Court delays by cutting jury trials face mounting criticism. In NLJ this week, Michael Zander KC warns proposals to shift cases to magistrates’ courts could ‘make the present very bad situation even worse’
The Courts & Tribunals Bill would remove defendants’ right to elect jury trial and expand judge-only hearings. But critics, including the Institute for Government, say the reforms rely on ‘highly uncertain’ assumptions about magistrates’ capacity. Already burdened courts may see workloads rise by up to 15%, risking delays and errors.
Zander highlights fears of ‘rough justice’ as quicker, less resourced hearings replace jury scrutiny. While aimed at efficiency, the reforms raise a stark trade-off between speed and fairness—one that could reshape criminal justice profoundly.
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