Chris Henley KC
Criminal barrister, head of Monckton Chambers and former chair of the Criminal Bar Association, providing expert critique of proposed justice system reforms and discussion of backlog impacts.
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Dec 12, 2025 • 43min
Swapping Judges For Juries: Will This Really Be Swifter And Fairer?
Riel Karmy-Jones KC, criminal barrister and Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, teams up with Chris Henley KC, former Chair, to dissect controversial Government reforms aiming to reduce jury trials. They challenge the effectiveness of these proposals in addressing Crown Court backlogs, questioning the inadequate research backing them. The duo also warns that shifting to judge-only trials could diminish public confidence and fairness in the system, leading to potential biases. Political motives and past failures in justice funding are explored, along with international comparisons.
Dec 3, 2025 • 9min
Why has the government scrapped juries for some trials?
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.
