Justice Secretary David Lammy's plan to scrap most jury trials in England and Wales 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 may increase mistrust in the criminal justice system among the black community, as black defendants are more likely to opt for jury trials.
The committee's report, released on Wednesday, highlighted that only 1% of crown court judges are black, a figure unchanged since 2015. It called for a 'clear national target' to increase diversity in the senior judiciary by 2035. Committee chair Andy Slaughter, a Labour MP, said the persistence of such stark underrepresentation demonstrates that efforts to date have failed to deliver meaningful change.
The report examined Lammy's proposal to remove 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 trial in the crown court, compared with 19% of mixed ethnicity, 17% Asian, and 15% white defendants. The committee echoed concerns that the reforms could disproportionately affect black defendants and increase mistrust.
MPs also warned that the magistrates' court may not cope with the potential increase in caseload, and described the target of 21,000 magistrates by 2029 as 'unrealistic'. The government faces possible rebellions when the courts and tribunals bill returns to the Commons. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the reforms, citing record investment and modernisation to tackle the backlog, and pledged to recruit more judges from diverse backgrounds.
