The leader of a governing party that seems to be spending most of its time helping police with their inquiries would, you might have thought, be a little wary of launching one of the most radical changes to the justice system in 800 years – but not Humza Yousaf. The politician who gave us the illiberal Hate Crime Act, which makes ‘stirring up hatred’ even in the privacy of one’s home a criminal offence, is now threatening to abolish jury trials in Scotland.
Since Magna Carta was issued in 1215, those accused of serious crimes in Scotland have had the right to be judged by a panel of their peers, but perhaps not for much longer. The SNP’s Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill will pilot judge-only courts for sexual offences.
The low conviction rate may simply be because rape cases are often extremely difficult to prosecute – ask anyone who has been a juror in such a case.
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