Justice secretary David Lammy's plans to limit jury trials to the most serious crimes could have a 'far-reaching' impact on race relations, according to a cross-party committee of MPs. The justice select committee warned that removing the right to elect for a crown court trial 'has the potential to increase mistrust in the criminal justice system among the black community', as black defendants are more likely to opt for trial by jury.
A report released on Wednesday highlighted that only 1% of crown court judges are black, a figure unchanged since 2015. The committee called for a 'clear national target' to increase diversity in the judiciary and magistracy by 2035. Committee chair Andy Slaughter said it was 'shocking' that efforts to date had failed to deliver meaningful change.
The report examined Lammy's proposal to scrap the right to elect for crown court trials in either-way cases, such as theft and burglary. It noted that in 2022, 26% of black defendants elected for crown court trial, compared with 19% of mixed ethnicity, 17% Asian, and 15% white defendants. The committee echoed concerns that the reform could increase mistrust among black communities.
MPs also questioned whether magistrates' courts could cope with the increased caseload, calling the target of 21,000 magistrates by 2029 'unrealistic'. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the reforms, citing Sir Brian Leveson's support and promising to recruit more magistrates and judges from diverse backgrounds, alongside an independent review into disproportionality.
