Burnham Government Scraps Starmer-Era Plans to Slash Jury Trials
Justice Secretary Alex Norris U-turns after lawyer outcry; some fraud and magistrates changes remain
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File photo: Royal Courts of Justice in London. Photo: David Castor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
her: they will remain for a small number of especially lengthy and technical fraud cases where a judge decides a jury trial is not appropriate. The government will also keep plans for magistrates — not defendants — to decide venue for "either-way" offences, and to raise magistrates' sentencing powers from 12 months to 18 months, with an option to extend to two years.
Lawyers welcome U-turn, warn on magistrates
Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow welcomed the new government's "swift action" but warned that increasing magistrates' powers and removing defendants' right to elect risks deepening disparities. Victims' commissioner Claire Waxman expressed concern that what remains may not be enough to meet the challenge of swifter justice. The Law Society and Criminal Bar Association also welcomed the jury-trial U-turn while flagging pressure on magistrates' courts.
