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UNBELIEVABLE: 2 | History Defined

Jury trials: what the UK government’s plan to limit them would mean for victims, defendants and courts

Justice secretary David Lammy has announced one of the most significant changes to criminal justice in England and Wales in decades, by scrapping the use of jury trials for most offences that carry a likely jail sentence of less than three years.

The Conversation · Dec 2, 2025

Why Lammy wants to scrap some jury trials – and the arguments against

Justice secretary says record backlog is failing victims and defendants, but there are concerns about lack of diversity among judges

The Guardian - UK · Dec 2, 2025

Lammy’s jury trial plans are ‘massive mistake’, say Labour MPs and peers

Only cases such as murder and rape or offences carrying sentence longer than three years would face jury under plans

The Guardian - UK · Dec 2, 2025

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Jury trials to be axed for crimes with sentences under three years as 'swift court' plans announced

David Lammy told the House of Commons the plan for jury-free trials will take time to implement

Evening Standard · Dec 2, 2025

Juries to be scrapped in thousands of cases, David Lammy confirms

The justice secretary outlined ‘bold but necessary’ reforms including removing juries in cases that could have a jail sentence of three years or less

The Independent UK · Dec 2, 2025

Mobile phone thieves shouldn't be able to delay rape cases by demanding trial by jury, suggests David Lammy

The Justice Secretary was unveiling reforms to deal with a ‘courts emergency’

Evening Standard · Dec 2, 2025

Lammy says jury trials ‘fundamental’ ahead of expected reforms to limit them

Mr Lammy will lay out reforms to overhaul the courts system including recommendations from Sir Brian Leveson.

Evening Standard · Dec 2, 2025

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MPs launch inquiry into Andrew’s lease arrangements at Royal Lodge – as it happened

Justice secretary expected to pull back from plans to reserve jury trials from only the most serious cases

The Guardian - UK · Dec 2, 2025

David Lammy expected to water down plans to scrap most jury trials

Justice secretary suggests he will stick to Leveson’s recommended three-year sentence threshold in England and Wales, after ‘cabinet feedback’

The Guardian - UK · Dec 2, 2025

Lammy to lay out sweeping reforms for ‘swift justice’ including plans to scrap jury trials in thousands of cases

Judge-only trials could replace juries for less serious crimes as David Lammy unveils ‘bold’ plans for a Canada-inspired justice system

The Independent UK · Dec 2, 2025

Justice Secretary to set out reforms to tackle ‘courts emergency’

David Lammy will lay out reforms to overhaul the system on Tuesday.

Evening Standard · Dec 2, 2025

Lammy lambasts ‘courts emergency’ as he prepares to face MPs over plans to slash jury trials

Justice secretary expected to announce plans to tackle backlog of cases as he says system has been pushed to brink of collapse

The Guardian - UK · Dec 2, 2025

Plan to reduce jury trials an ‘irremediable error’, lawyers say in MoJ letter

More than 100 lawyers have accused the Ministry of Justice of ignoring the legal profession’s objections

The Guardian - UK · Nov 30, 2025

David Lammy set to unveil major reforms to UK justice system this week

Reports have suggested that jury trials will be significantly restricted if Lammy’s proposed changes go through

The Independent UK · Nov 30, 2025

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Evening Standard · Nov 28, 2025

Calls for justice system ‘change’ at exclusive Prima Facie screening in London

Justice Minister Sarah Sackman defends controversial jury axe plans at special screening of award-winning play starring Jodie Comer

The Guardian - UK · Nov 28, 2025

David Lammy is right to slash the use of juries – it’s an open-and-shut case

Barristers and criminals may not like the idea, but it’s key to reforming the antiquated and overloaded justice system, says the Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

The Guardian - UK · Nov 27, 2025

The Guardian view on restricting trial by jury: a shabby evasion of responsibility

Editorial: The criminal cases backlog requires radical action, but the problem has been caused by government cuts, not by an ancient and fundamental liberty

Evening Standard · Nov 27, 2025

Labour does not trust public, says Jenrick amid reports of more jury-less trials

Sir Brian Leveson’s review of the courts system has recommended juries are reserved for rape, murder and manslaughter cases.

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The Guardian - UK · Nov 27, 2025

Thursday briefing: What could the government’s proposals to scrap jury trials mean for democracy?

In today’s newsletter: As pressure mounts to tackle the backlog of almost 80,000 cases, the government is considering sweeping reforms that senior lawyers warn may reshape justice in England and Wales

Evening Standard · Nov 26, 2025

OPINION - Destroying jury trials because everything else is broken is a terrible idea

Tristan Kirk: While not perfect, the jury system is a treasured and historic commodity that fosters a level of trust in our courts

The Guardian - UK · Nov 25, 2025

David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases

Senior lawyers criticise justice secretary’s radical plan for England and Wales, saying it could ‘destroy justice as we know it’

The Independent UK · Nov 25, 2025

Most jury trials set to be scrapped in Lammy’s court overhaul

IN FULL

The Independent UK · Nov 25, 2025

Jury trials set to be scrapped except for most serious crimes

Move comes as No 10 is yet to respond to recommendations on how to reform the court system

The Guardian - UK · Nov 24, 2025

It’s not jury trials that have left Britain’s justice system in crisis

Letter: The introduction of an intermediary court that has not been properly piloted is not the answer when other inefficiencies plaguing the system could be tackled first, says Barbara Mills of the Bar Council

The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2025

Why does MoJ want to curtail jury trials in England and Wales?

Right to trial by jury seen as bedrock of justice system but Sir Brian Leveson says court backlogs could lead to ‘total system collapse’

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UNBELIEVABLE: 2 | History Defined

Jury trials: what the UK government’s plan to limit them would mean for victims, defendants and courts

Why Lammy wants to scrap some jury trials – and the arguments against

Lammy’s jury trial plans are ‘massive mistake’, say Labour MPs and peers

Jury trials to be axed for crimes with sentences under three years as 'swift court' plans announced

Juries to be scrapped in thousands of cases, David Lammy confirms

Mobile phone thieves shouldn't be able to delay rape cases by demanding trial by jury, suggests David Lammy

Lammy says jury trials ‘fundamental’ ahead of expected reforms to limit them

MPs launch inquiry into Andrew’s lease arrangements at Royal Lodge – as it happened

David Lammy expected to water down plans to scrap most jury trials

Lammy to lay out sweeping reforms for ‘swift justice’ including plans to scrap jury trials in thousands of cases

Justice Secretary to set out reforms to tackle ‘courts emergency’

Lammy lambasts ‘courts emergency’ as he prepares to face MPs over plans to slash jury trials

Plan to reduce jury trials an ‘irremediable error’, lawyers say in MoJ letter

David Lammy set to unveil major reforms to UK justice system this week

Calls for justice system ‘change’ at exclusive Prima Facie screening in London

David Lammy is right to slash the use of juries – it’s an open-and-shut case

The Guardian view on restricting trial by jury: a shabby evasion of responsibility

Labour does not trust public, says Jenrick amid reports of more jury-less trials

Thursday briefing: ​What could the government’s proposals to scrap jury trials mean for democracy?

OPINION - Destroying jury trials because everything else is broken is a terrible idea

David Lammy considers scrapping jury trials for all but the most serious cases

Most jury trials set to be scrapped in Lammy’s court overhaul

Jury trials set to be scrapped except for most serious crimes

It’s not jury trials that have left Britain’s justice system in crisis

Why does MoJ want to curtail jury trials in England and Wales?

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Thursday briefing: What could the government’s proposals to scrap jury trials mean for democracy?