This week a government memo was leaked to the media suggesting that the Ministry of Justice is planning to remove the right to jury trials in most Crown Court cases. We recognise this news has caused a great deal of concern among the profession. Last night, we met as Bar leaders to discuss next steps.

In the initial media response this week, the Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association reiterated that the Bar remains against the curtailment of jury trials. Jury trials have not caused the criminal justice system crisis. Removing the right to elect a jury trial and introducing a new intermediate court (the Crown Court Bench Division) has not been piloted nor thoroughly modelled. There is no evidence we have seen (notwithstanding our repeated requests for the same) that it will significantly reduce the Crown Court backlog. However, there is evidence that diminishing the constitutional principle of trial by jury will erode trust in our criminal justice system.

We continue to argue that the government’s focus should be on fixing the swathe of inefficiencies plaguing the system, which could be resolved and make a real difference now.

We will respond fully once the government response to Sir Brian Leveson’s report is published. We anticipate that the government’s response will include a number of measures and that it will be made in the coming weeks.

We want to reassure you that we will continue to work closely together and listen to your voices. We stand firm in representing your views.

Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Vice Chair of the Bar Council
Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association
Andrew Thomas KC, Vice Chair of the Criminal Bar Association
Claire Davies KC, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit
Jaime Hamilton KC, Leader of the Northern Circuit
Sarah Jones KC, Leader of the Western Circuit
Jason Pitter KC, Leader of the North Eastern Circuit
Caroline Rees KC, Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit
Harpreet Sandhu KC, Leader of the Midland Circuit
Lachlan Stewart, Chair of the Bar Council Young Barristers’ Committee