Britain abolishes jury trials for sentences under 3 years

On Tuesday, British Justice Secretary David Lammy announced that cases in England and Wales likely to result in sentences under three years will no longer be heard by a jury. Instead, these cases will be handled by judges and magistrates in newly established "swift courts."

Lammy, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, explained that serious crimes like murder, robbery, and rape will continue to be tried by jury, while less severe offenses will follow the judge-only procedure. The government claims this system will resolve cases 20% faster than traditional jury trials.

Deputy Prime Minister Lammy emphasized, "Victims have waited long enough." The reform removes the right of defendants to request a jury trial for eligible cases, aiming to provide quicker justice for victims.

The Justice Secretary confirmed that these changes are intended to be permanent. Earlier this year, the Attorney General announced plans to replace juries with judges for complex and costly fraud trials.

The Ministry of Justice described the reform as "bold," emphasizing that it prioritizes victims within the legal system. Lammy noted that the Crown Court faces a backlog of nearly 80,000 cases, with an expected 100,000 new cases over the next three years.

Alongside these reforms, the government will invest over $725 million in specialized victim support programs, the largest such funding package in history. Lammy highlighted that this investment will provide counseling, court guidance, and other support to help survivors navigate the legal system and ensure dangerous offenders are held accountable.

Author: Ethan Caldwell