Burnham scraps controversial plans to curb jury trials
The UK government has abandoned plans to allow judges to preside over certain criminal trials without a jury to address court backlogs. Justice Secretary Alex Norris confirmed the reversal following significant opposition from legal professionals who argued for the preservation of jury trials.
Why it matters
This decision marks a significant policy shift regarding the right to a jury trial and the management of the UK's judicial system backlog.
Image source, Getty Images By George Wright Published 7 minutes ago By Dominic Casciani Home and Legal Correspondent Prime Minister Andy Burnham has scrapped controversial plans to curb some jury trials.
Sir Keir Starmer's government had introduced proposals to allow judges to make the sole decision on cases that would lead to a sentence of less than three years.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said only complex fraud and financial offences would be judge-alone - and it proposes that thousands of medium-level crimes should stay with volunteer magistrates, who sit without a jury.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he had changed course came after hearing the "strength of feeling". Criminal lawyers have welcomed the decision and the Conservatives say it is a "major victory" for those who fought to defend trial by jury.
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