More than 3,200 legal professionals, including 22 retired judges and over 300 senior barristers, have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to reconsider plans to limit jury trials in Crown Court cases. The letter warns that the proposed changes threaten a longstanding constitutional principle while offering minimal benefits.
Controversial Courts and Tribunals Bill Targets Shorter Sentences
The government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill, scheduled for its first parliamentary vote, proposes removing the right to a jury trial for crimes carrying sentences up to three years. Under the plan, only serious offenses such as rape, murder, and manslaughter would continue to be tried by juries.
The government argues these reforms, combined with investments into the court system, could reduce the criminal case backlog by approximately 84,000 cases, lowering the total backlog to 49,000 by 2035. However, research from the Institute for Government indicates these restrictions would save less than 2% of court time.
Support and Opposition Highlight Divisions Within Labour
While the letter from legal experts criticizes the reforms as untested and poorly evidenced, a separate group of 40 female Labour MPs has urged Justice Secretary David Lammy to persist with the measures. They cited rising court delays, stressing that victims of domestic abuse and coercive control face trial waiting times extending to 2030, calling the situation “intolerable.”
Lammy has expressed confidence that MPs across parties recognize the urgency of reducing delays and expects the bill to pass. Following discussions with victims’ groups, including survivors of sexual violence, Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the government’s commitment to expediting justice, especially for women.
Political Response and Parliamentary Outlook
Although some Labour MPs have voiced strong criticism—one reportedly describing the plans as “lazy”—Lammy appeared “bullish” after a Parliamentary Labour Party meeting. The absence of the reforms’ most vocal critic, Karl Turner, at the meeting was noted, with members suggesting the government has sufficient support to pass the bill.
The Conservative Party opposes the changes, vowing to force a vote in defense of the right to jury trials, arguing that the reforms risk undermining essential legal safeguards.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.