Sensemaker Why has the government scrapped juries for some trials?
Dec 3, 2025
Chris Henley KC, a criminal barrister and head of Monckton Chambers, discusses proposed reforms to the justice system aimed at tackling severe court delays. He critiques the government's plan to scrap jury trials for certain cases and highlights the implications for defendants' rights. Henley explains how backlogs escalated due to COVID disruptions and insufficient court resources. Concerned about potential biases with increased magistrate powers, he calls for more Crown Court sittings and fairer compensation for barristers to ensure speedy justice.
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Juries Removed For Many Midlevel Crimes
- David Lammy will remove jury trials for many 'either way' offences to speed cases.
- More serious crimes like murder, rape and robbery will keep jury trials.
Claimed Speed Gains And Victim Funding
- The government says scrapping juries could cut trial length by about 20%.
- It also pledged £550 million for victim support over the next three years.
A Victim's Six-Year Wait
- Katie waited six years after reporting repeated abuse before seeing justice.
- The delay damaged her mental health, cost her a job and eroded trust in the system.