David Lammy faces furious backlash over plan to scrap jury trials for most crimes
Lammy’s Plan to Axe Juries for Tens of Thousands of Cases
Justice Secretary David Lammy has sparked outrage with a bold proposal to ditch jury trials for all but the most serious offences. Under his plan, tens of thousands of defendants charged with “either way” crimes—those carrying shorter sentences—would lose their right to be judged by a jury. Instead, magistrates or a single judge would decide these cases, reserving juries only for offences carrying sentences over three years, like murder, rape, and manslaughter.
Lammy argues that the courts are in a “crisis” with a backlog of over 78,000 cases, which he calls a “courts emergency.” He insists some defendants drag out jury trials to delay guilty pleas, pushing back justice even further.
“This is about saving the jury system,” Lammy claimed, insisting jury trials will remain the “cornerstone” for the most serious crimes.
Labour Rebels and Legal Experts Slam ‘Putin-esque’ Move
Labour MPs and legal experts united to denounce Lammy’s proposal as reckless and authoritarian. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick warned it’s “the beginning of the end of jury trials,” accusing Lammy of betraying “the institution he once praised.” He cited the Magna Carta to highlight the risk of tearing up centuries of legal rights.
Labour heavyweights Diane Abbott, Clive Efford, and Richard Burgon were particularly fierce. Burgon even likened Lammy’s plan to “Putin-esque” tactics and urged the Justice Secretary to “think again.”
Critics also questioned the logic. Jury trials make up just 3% of criminal cases, and Labour MP Stella Creasy said, “It’s hard to see how this measure will address that backlog.”
Top Lawyers Warn of Dangerous Fallout
Baroness Helena Kennedy KC branded Lammy’s excuses—citing justice delays for rape victims—as “shameful.” She warned slashing jury trials opens the door to further attacks on the legal system.
Legal experts fear increasing judge-only trials could expose magistrates to intimidation. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, head of the Criminal Bar Association, warned, “It’s easier to intimidate one person than 12.”
A leaked civil service memo revealed plans to consider judge-only trials for offences with sentences up to five years, sparking alarm bells. The Government claims no final decision has been made, but controversy is boiling.
Lammy Blames Tory Cuts, Pledges £550m Investment
Lammy blamed Conservative government cuts for the court crisis, pointing to fewer sitting days and the scrapping of jury trials in defamation cases. He pledged a £550 million injection over three years to bolster victim services, including counselling and court support.
Victims’ commissioner Claire Waxman welcomed the funding but warned it won’t fix the wider justice mess.
The Justice Secretary also promised more crown court sitting days and a new drive to attract fresh talent into criminal law.
The row over jury trials comes amid deepening concerns about Labour’s handling of justice, with court delays soaring and reports of prisoners wrongly freed. Parliament faces a stark choice: preserve the historic jury trial or risk a collapsing justice system.
Stay tuned for the latest on this high-stakes legal showdown.
