Understand
Burnham scraps controversial plans to curb jury trials
Overview
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government has scrapped controversial proposals to allow judges to make the sole decision on certain Crown Court cases leading to sentences of less than three years. Justice Secretary Alex Norris stated that the decision to change course came after listening to the strong public and professional feeling against eroding the right to trial by jury, though the government remains committed to addressing the court backlog and delivering swifter justice.
Key points
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has abandoned plans to curb jury trials for cases carrying sentences under three years.
- The Ministry of Justice previously introduced the proposals to help tackle court backlogs and prison population pressures.
- Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the U-turn followed strong opposition from the criminal justice sector and wider public.
- Criminal lawyers and the Conservative opposition welcomed the decision, describing it as a major victory for trial by jury.
- The court backlog currently stands at nearly 81,000 cases, though officials note it is showing signs of stabilising.