Former judge suggests ending jury trials for minor offenses

A former top judge has suggested that thousands of suspected criminals should not have the right to a jury trial. This proposal aims to speed up the justice process and reduce the backlog of cases. Lord Burnett, who was the lord chief justice until 2023, believes that defendants facing up to two years in prison could be tried by a judge and two magistrates instead of a jury. The new trial format would apply to various offenses, including assaults on emergency workers and possession of cannabis. Lord Burnett argues that this change could reduce trial times from days to hours. Currently, many suspects plead not guilty, hoping delays will weaken the case against them. The suggestion is part of a broader review of the court system in England and Wales. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is leading this review, aiming for significant reforms. The right to a jury trial has been in place since the 13th century, but recent backlogs of over 73,000 cases mean victims and defendants may wait five to six years for their trials. Lord Burnett warned that existing measures to address the delays are not sufficient. He highlighted that the number of cases taking over a year to conclude has doubled. His proposed solution would allow many cases currently sent to the Crown Court to be resolved in a new intermediate court. This idea of an intermediate court is not new. It was first suggested over 25 years ago but faced resistance from legal professionals. Lord Burnett thinks it could help reverse the growing backlog. Shabana Mahmood has appointed a senior judge to review the court system and is consulting magistrates about the proposed changes, which would require a larger time commitment from them.