The British government will scrap jury trials for offences carrying likely sentences of under three years, a major curtailment of a centuries-old safeguard that ministers claim will ease pressure on England and Wales’ clogged courts.
Justice Secretary David Lammy announced the reforms on Tuesday, insisting the changes were “necessary”—even as critics warned they risk undermining public trust and weakening defendants’ rights.
The plan introduces “swift courts” and hands more cases to volunteer magistrates, while serious crimes such as murder and rape remain jury-eligible. The move follows proposals from retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, who warned of a looming “system collapse.” But an earlier draft, leaked last week, showed ministers had considered going far further by ending jury trials for offences punishable by up to five years.
Lammy said restricting jury elections would prevent defendants from “gaming the system” and speed up cases by 20% as Crown Court backlogs surge toward 100,000 by 2028. Defendants in fraud and complex financial cases will also lose automatic jury trials.
Lawyers, barristers, and campaigners argue the government is attacking a core democratic principle and that judge-only trials will deepen inequalities and erode confidence in the justice system.
