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Thousands of Jury Trials to Be Scrapped Under Reforms (20 January 2012)

Date: 20/01/2012
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Thousands of Jury Trials to Be Scrapped Under Reforms

The number of jury trials could be dramatically cut under reforms designed to reduce court case costs, it has been revealed. The reforms could save over £30 million per annum, but are likely to be met with strong opposition from civil liberties campaign groups. Juries in cases covering minor thefts, assaults, criminal damage, burglaries, specific drug offences, and certain driving offences will be abolished under the reforms. These offences are currently deemed as ‘triable either way’, they can be heard by magistrates or by a judge and jury in a Crown Court. In addition to saving money, sending an increased number of cases to magistrates' courts will enable cases involving the most serious crimes, including murder, rape and serious frauds, to be heard more quickly.

Civil liberties campaign groups and criminal law barristers have voiced their opposition to the reforms, claiming that cases should be heard by juries. However, cases heard in the Crown Court cost £3,000 per day while those heard by a Magistrates’ Court cost £900. Under the proposed reforms, Magistrates may be granted the right to order a case to trial by a jury. The Magistrates' Association has lent their support to the proposals.

Two thirds of all ‘triable either way’ cases are currently heard in the Crown Court, with cases taking an average of 22 weeks to be heard. The majority of these cases result the accused pleading guilty before their trials begin. In the majority of all theft cases heard, the items stolen amount to less than £200.

The criminal law solicitors at Duncan Lewis are experts at standing up for their clients in Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court cases.

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