The CourtWatch London project provides a valuable insight into the functioning of the magistrates' courts, the project has gathered data and feedback from 2,300 hearings at the 15 magistrates’ courts across London between February and July last year. The Courtwatchers recorded 500 hearings (23% of all hearings) where the defendant was not represented by a lawyer.
The CourtWatch London project report was launched at an event on Tuesday and the report has been published today. This is the fifth report in the series and is organised by the campaign group Transform Justice.
Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC said: "At a time when the government is pushing to remove rights to elect to the Crown Court and so moving substantially more cases to the magistrates’ court, this report is a timely intervention to show why it is a flawed approach. Magistrates’ courts are already struggling with their caseload and are time pressured, graphically illustrated by the court watcher who observed a magistrate enter the courtroom and address the defendant with the words ‘I don’t know who you are but please sit down’.
“The Courts and Tribunals Bill proposals will lead to more people representing themselves as the legal aid limit is lower in the magistrates’ courts compared to the Crown Court. There are concerning findings in the report that defendants were treated as cases to be got through rather than people. Defendants have a right to engage in their own trial. The lack of legal aid and increased time pressure, around the corner if the bill becomes law, will likely lead to more miscarriages of justice. The report starkly shows that quick justice does not equate to just justice.”
Find out more about the CourtWatch project