David Lammy, the lord chancellor, has urged MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales, claiming the backlog of nearly 80,000 trials could be cleared within a decade. Speaking from Toronto, where he observed Canadian-style single-judge courts, Lammy argued that such reforms are necessary to address the rising case backlog, which he warned could exceed 100,000 if left unaddressed.
The proposals, announced last month, would see defendants facing sentences of three years or less lose the right to a jury trial. Magistrates' sentencing powers would be extended from one year to at least 18 months, and a new judge-only 'swift' court would be established. The government aims to halve the number of jury trials from 15,000 per year.
Dozens of Labour MPs have expressed concerns, arguing the changes could disadvantage working-class and minority ethnic defendants. Karl Turner, the MP for Kingston upon Hull East, broke the party whip to vote against the proposals and threatened to trigger a byelection unless the plans are scrapped. Former shadow attorney general Turner was the only Labour MP to oppose the government.
Lammy defended the reforms, noting that Canada has used judge-only trials for decades and that defendants often prefer them. He declined to rule out a 'sunset clause' that would allow the changes to be reversed once the backlog is reduced, saying he is 'keen to listen' to parliamentarians.
Critics, including Richard Atkinson of the Law Society, argued that focusing on judge-led courts ignores other solutions such as repairing unused courts, investing in legal aid, and earlier mediation. Atkinson noted that Canada has time limits on case waiting times and has decriminalised some offences, making direct comparisons difficult.
