Sky News Daily The jury’s out? The verdict on Lammy’s justice reforms
Dec 2, 2025
Dan Whitehead, a Sky News correspondent, shares insights on the court backlog and the impact of David Lammy’s proposed jury reforms. Dr. Rebecca Helm, a law professor, argues for the importance of juries in assessing honesty and argues against blanket removal. They discuss the potential risks to victims if juries are limited to serious crimes and explore alternative reforms that could alleviate the backlog without sacrificing justice. Engaging topics include the role of juries, mistakes made by judges, and innovative approaches to improve the justice system.
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Scope Of Lammy’s Proposal
- David Lammy proposes removing jury trials for many either-way offences to speed up courts facing a backlog near 100,000 cases.
- Jury trials currently make up only about 3% of cases, so the change may be less radical than it sounds.
Judge‑Led Swift Courts
- The reform would create a swift court within the Crown Court where a single judge, not a jury, handles many either-way cases.
- Lammy estimates judge-led trials could be about 20% quicker than jury trials and help reduce the backlog.
Victim’s Eight‑Year Wait
- Dan Whitehead recounted a sexual abuse victim who waited eight and a half years for conviction, with trials repeatedly delayed.
- The prolonged waits caused severe psychological toll and led some victims to withdraw cases.
