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State of backlog

15 September 2021
Issue: 7948 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Profession , In Court
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The cases backlog stands at 367,294 magistrates’ court cases and 58,188 Crown Court cases in July, according to the latest HM Courts and Tribunal Service statistics
This represents a drop of nearly 10,000 outstanding cases on the previous month and of 78,000 from the previous July, in magistrates’ courts. However, the backlog had decreased by only 1,000 from the previous month and had actually risen by 13,000 on the previous July, in the Crown Court.

Law Society president I Stephanie Boyce welcomed the improvement in magistrates’ courts but expressed concern about the Crown Court backlog.

‘With some trials being delayed until 2023, victims, witnesses and defendants are being denied timely access to justice. With the easing of pandemic restrictions, physical court space is now less of a problem, but we are seeing the ability to run criminal courts at capacity hit by a lack of judges, court staff, prosecutors and defence lawyers.’

Boyce said years of underfunding and cuts meant sustained investment was now needed across the criminal justice system.

Issue: 7948 / Categories: Legal News , Covid-19 , Profession , In Court
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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

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