Living in the Southern Ocean: Part 1- Blazing a Trail for Criminal Justice Reform

Dec 27, 2025

Simon Moore, a former High Court judge and Chief Crown Prosecutor in New Zealand, dives into the intricacies of criminal justice reform. He compares the 2011 New Zealand reforms to the UK government's proposals on jury trials, questioning their potential impact on case backlogs. Simon shares insights on judge-alone trials, the complexities behind backlog issues, and the hidden costs of justice reform. His experience sheds light on bias concerns in the UK, while highlighting systemic challenges that persist in both countries' legal systems.

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ANECDOTE

Career Spanning Prosecutor To High Court Judge

Simon Moore served decades as Auckland's chief crown prosecutor and later as a High Court judge.
He prosecuted major cases including the Pitcairn trials and presided over the Grace Millane murder trial.

INSIGHT

2011 Reforms Mirrored UK Backlog Debate

New Zealand's 2011 reforms raised the jury threshold to reduce backlog and mirrored issues now debated in the UK.
Simon Moore says drivers were identical: backlog, delay, and inefficient processes rather than principled opposition.

INSIGHT

Raising Thresholds Reduces Jury Elections

Raising the jury-trial threshold reduced the number of eligible jury elections and eased pressure on resources.
Simon notes similar political calls exist now to raise thresholds further to cut backlog.

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In Part 1 of a special holiday release of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC are joined by the former New Zealand High Court Judge and Chief Crown Prosecutor for Auckland, Simon Moore KC. At a time when comparisons are often made between the Leveson/Lammy proposals and the major reforms to New Zealand criminal justice system in 2011 flowing from its Criminal Procedure Act 2011 and the Victims of Crime Reform Act 2011, Simon gives his thoughts on the UK government’s proposed changes to the right to trial by jury and questions whether they will be effective in achieving the radical reduction in the Crown Court backlog.

Covering the critical intersections of politics and law in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain’s legal and political future.  What happens when politics and law collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain’s legal and political system?  Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.  Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.  Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.  Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.  Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.  If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you’ll love Double Jeopardy.