Would scrapping juries help tackle the courts backlog?

There’s a lot to digest in the new Crime and Justice Commission report, which came out today. Its proposals include, for example, a legal ban on access to social media for under-16s and a universal digital ID card system. But the most eye-catching idea in the Times-sponsored report is that for those outside the most serious crimes – notably murder, manslaughter, rape and serious violent and sexual offences – the right to jury trial should go. Instead, other crimes for which currently there is a right to a jury should, if the defendant chooses, instead be tried by a so-called intermediate court consisting of a judge sitting with two magistrates. 

There is little doubt that the government would agree. Labour is desperate to do something about the backlog in the crown courts (which is scandalous: some defendants are already being told that there are no free slots before 2028). It also knows full well that a choice of jury trial materially increases the chance of acquittal and would welcome a chance to appear tough on law and order.