The UK government is facing significant pressure from legal professionals to abandon radical proposals that would see jury trials abolished for the vast majority of criminal cases in England and Wales.
A Drastic Solution to a Growing Crisis
According to a confidential memo obtained by The Times, the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, has written to fellow ministers and senior civil servants arguing that drastic action is essential to tackle the record-breaking backlog in the crown courts. In his communication, dated 25 November 2025, Lammy asserted that there is “no right” to a jury trial in the UK.
Under the proposed reforms, juries would be reserved solely for the most serious offences, including murder, rape, and manslaughter. The majority of other cases would be heard by a single judge sitting alone, a move the government believes would help process cases more swiftly and provide faster justice for victims.
Legal Experts Voice Grave Concerns
The plans have been met with immediate and fierce criticism from within the criminal justice system. Senior figures have warned that the move could usher in a system reminiscent of the “star chamber”, a historical court from the 15th to 17th centuries where judges sat without a jury.
The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has issued a stark warning that such a fundamental change could severely damage public trust. Barbara Mills KC, the Chair of the Bar Council, stated unequivocally that the current crisis is not the fault of jury trials.
“The criminal justice system is not in this crisis because of jury trials,” Mills said. She emphasised that the proposed changes have not been properly modelled or piloted, and there is little evidence they would significantly reduce the Crown Court backlog.
Focus Should Be on Existing Inefficiencies
Instead of a major constitutional overhaul, the Bar Council urges the government to focus on fixing the well-documented inefficiencies already plaguing the system. Mills argued that the legislative time and resources required for this reform could be better spent on the existing court estate.
“The focus should be on fixing the swathe of inefficiencies plaguing the system, which could be resolved and make a real difference now,” she advised. The Bar Council recommends, at a minimum, that any new intermediate court system be thoroughly piloted before dismantling a centuries-old legal tradition.
These controversial proposals go far beyond the recommendations made by Sir Brian Leveson in his review of the criminal courts, which was published in July. The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment on the growing backlash.
