Leveson's Independent Review of Criminal Courts
In 2024, the government announced Sir Brian Leveson would be undertaking an independent review of the criminal courts and provide recommendations to reduce the backlog of cases, which is now approaching 80,000, with trials being listed for 2030.
In July 2025, Part I (the policy review) of the ‘Independent review of the criminal courts’, by Sir Brian Leveson, commissioned by the Ministry of Justice was published. We welcomed the focus on diversion from the criminal justice system but warned against proposals to remove jury trials.
The government responded to part 1 in December 2025 and set out a package of measures, including the proposal to curtail jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.
Our position
- We have continuously opposed proposals to curtail jury trials because there is no evidence that their removal would reduce the backlog nor has it been set out how an alternative system would be resourced. This change would compromise public trust and confidence in our criminal justice system
- The criminal justice system and criminal Bar desperately need further investment, including match-funding criminal pupillages
- The government should remove the cap on sitting days to ensure courts can work at full capacity to reduce the backlog
- An immediate uplift of 15% to criminal prosecution and defence fees to provide enough publicly funded barristers to meet the demand
- Criminal procedure rules should be amended to provide greater flexibility for hearings and to allow virtual courts which do not require a court room
Read a summary of our submission to the review
Read the latest government statement from December 2025: 'Swift and fair' plan to get justice for victims - gov.uk
Our work
- Executive summary of our submission to the independent review of the Criminal Courts, chaired by Sir Brian Leveson
- Our response to the recommendations in Sir Brian Leveson's Part I report, sent to the Lord Chancellor in August 2025
- Chair of the Bar, Barbara Mills KC met with the Lord Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in October 2025
- Chair of the Bar Barbara Mills KC met with Sir Brian Leveson in November 2025
- Our Public Affairs team have lobbied MPs for support: Westminster Hall debate briefing for MPs
- Worked with in collaboration with partner organisations, including the Inns of Court, Specialist Bar Associations and Circuits, to continue to represent the Bar and lobby for changes to improve the criminal justice system for legal professionals, defendants, witnesses and victims
- Worked with media outlets to publicise the Bar’s views
Further resources
3 December 2025: Lawyers are furious over plans to ditch juries | The Times
2 December 2025: Justice Secretary to set out reforms to tackle ‘courts emergency’ | The Independent
2 December 2025: Lammy lambasts ‘courts emergency’ as he prepares to face MPs over plans to slash jury trials | Trial by jury | The Guardian
25 November 2025: Jury trials to be scrapped except for alleged rapists and killers | The Times
24 November 2025: It’s not jury trials that have left Britain’s justice system in crisis | Trial by jury | The Guardian
Bar leaders’ statement on government’s response to Leveson’s Review of Criminal Courts
The Bar leaders have issued a joint statement in response to the news the government plans to curtail the right to jury trials.
Bar Council urges government not to pursue changes to jury trial under mistaken belief that radical equals effective
The Bar Council has issued an initial response to the government's package of measures announced in response to Sir Brian Leveson's review of criminal courts. The Bar's representative body has warned that progress risks being undermined by proposals that compromise public trust and confidence in our criminal justice system through curtailing jury trials.
Bar leadership joint statement on jury trials
The Bar leaders met following the leak of a government memo on the response to Sir Brian Leveson's report
Jury trials have not caused the criminal justice system crisis - Bar Council
The Bar Council has warned that curtailing the right to jury trials may result in a further lack of trust and confidence in our criminal justice system.
Bar Council welcomes increase to Crown Court sitting days but warns long-term investment is needed to reduce case backlog
"Continuing to limit the number of sitting days will mean the backlog is only being chipped away. To have an immediate and significant impact on the delays, there should be no limit to the number of days that courts can sit."
Leveson report: diversion welcome but no need to curtail trial by jury, warns Bar Council
Our initial response to Part I of the Independent review of the criminal courts
Spending Review is sign of listening to voices from the courts – Bar Council reaction
The Bar Council has welcomed the overall settlement for justice in the Spending Review.
New report reinforces perilous state of criminal justice, Bar Council says
A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that Crown Court productivity had recovered to post-pandemic levels by the end of last year, yet the record high backlog continues to rise.
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The Bar Council said the announcement recognises that we need a properly resourced regime that reduces crime and increases public confidence and safety in our justice system.
Juryless trials ‘not the answer’ to court crisis, barristers warn
The Bar Council has objected to the introduction of intermediate courts and made alternative recommendations, including a new model for diversion, in its submission to the Leveson review of criminal justice.
Criminal legal aid increase for solicitors: Bar Council reaction
The government has announced additional funding for criminal legal aid solicitors
Increasing court sitting days is the right decision
The government has announced an extra 2,000 sitting days
Bar Council reacts to Leveson review of criminal courts and latest court statistics
The figures out today show the perilous state of the criminal justice system. To address the multitude of challenges, we need new solutions and additional funding.
Beware speed over safety: after the Leveson review
Tim Kiely explores what the next steps are for criminal justice following part one of the Leveson independent review of criminal courts.
Guest blog: How will restricting jury trial and reducing jury numbers affect the delivery of justice?
10 July 2020: Tana Adkin KC, barrister at Charter Chambers and member of the Bar Councils Retention Panel, looks in-depth at the many reasons why jury trials should not be tampered with
Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 1 - GOV.UK
Executive summary of our submission to the independent review of the criminal courts