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MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul

Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog

The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2025

Crown court backlog in England and Wales hits new record of almost 80,000 cases

Ministry of Justice data shows 10% increase in open cases as waiting times for trial dates reach up to four years

The Guardian - UK · Sep 25, 2025

Crown court backlog hits record level

The number of outstanding cases was 78,329 at the end of June, up 10% from a year earlier.

Evening Standard · Sep 25, 2025

Court reforms vital to tackle ‘scandalous disgrace’ of backlog, says Ken Clarke

The Tory grandee backed plans to reduce the number of jury trials and create a new type of crown court where cases are heard by judges.

Evening Standard · Jul 14, 2025

Restrictions on jury trials will put real justice at risk

Letters: Dr Joanna Gilmore and Prof David Mead on Sir Brian Leveson’s proposals to help deal with a backlog in the criminal courts. Plus letters from former crown court judge Owen Davies KC and a sitting magistrate

The Guardian - UK · Jul 14, 2025

‘Shameful’ that black boys in London more likely to die by 18 than white boys, says Met chief

Mark Rowley says historically ‘policing has got a lot wrong’ in black communities but ‘we get a lot more right today’

The Guardian - UK · Jul 13, 2025

The Guardian view on restricting trial by jury: the ugly face of justice tailored to tight budgets

Editorial: An independent review of the criminal courts lays bare the lack of good options when well-funded reform is not on the table

The Guardian - UK · Jul 9, 2025

OPINION - Getting rid of trial by jury could have disastrous consequences

When the right to trial by jury is radically cut back later this year or early next, let’s not pretend it’s because anyone has come up with a better idea for handling criminal cases.

Evening Standard · Jul 9, 2025

Could England and Wales introduce jury-free trials? Here’s how they work in other countries

The right to trial by jury is a fundamental part of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. But under new proposals to address a record backlog of almost 77,000 Crown Court cases, some cases could now be heard by judge alone.

The Conversation · Jul 9, 2025

Jury trials ‘always important’ part of justice system amid court reform shake-up

Plans to reduce the number of jury trials and create a new type of crown court where trials are heard by judges were unveiled on Wednesday.

Evening Standard · Jul 9, 2025