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Britain Scraps Controversial Jury Trial Curb Plans After Widespread Backlash
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CNBC TV18•04-10-2026, 08:50
Britain Scraps Controversial Jury Trial Curb Plans After Widespread Backlash
- •Britain has abandoned plans to remove the right to trial by jury for less serious criminal cases, following significant criticism from lawyers and politicians.
- •The decision by Prime Minister Andy Burnham reverses a policy proposed by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, amidst a broader criminal justice crisis.
- •The Ministry of Justice confirmed that plans to curb jury trials for cases with likely sentences under three years are scrapped, a move welcomed by groups like the Criminal Bar Association.
- •Concerns remain over the MoJ's decision to increase sentencing powers for magistrates and remove defendants' right to elect trial by jury.
- •The backlog of jury trials in Crown Courts in England and Wales reached nearly 81,000 by June, almost double the 2020 figure, causing long waits for justice.
Key Questions Answered
The British government abandoned the proposal in response to sustained criticism from many lawyers and politicians who argued it curtailed fundamental rights.
Lawyers raised concerns over the Ministry of Justice's decision to increase sentencing powers for magistrates and the removal of defendants' right to elect trial by jury, warning it could be counterproductive given rising backlogs.
The Ministry of Justice stated it would maintain plans allowing complex fraud trials to be heard by a judge alone to avoid jurors sitting on months-long cases.
