Judge-only trials could replace juries for less serious crimes as David Lammy unveils ‘bold’ plans for a Canada-inspired justice system

Judge-only trials could replace juries for less serious crimes as David Lammy unveils ‘bold’ plans for a Canada-inspired justice system

The justice secretary outlined ‘bold but necessary’ reforms including removing juries in cases that could have a jail sentence of three years or less

Right to trial by jury seen as a touchstone of the British justice system, but severe court backlogs may prompt change.

Only cases such as murder and rape or offences carrying sentence longer than three years would face jury under plans

On Tuesday, Britain's Labor government claimed the government's new system would process cases a fifth faster than trials empaneled by a jury.