Justice minister to unveil 'sweeping' court reforms

Britain’s justice minister was set to to unveil “the most sweeping modernisation” of the courts “in a generation” yesterday, with media reporting plans to end jury trials except for the most serious crimes.

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Lammy: System 'near collapse'

The planned changes would massively restrict the historic right to a jury trial in England and Wales, guaranteeing it only for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other cases passing a public interest test, according to different UK news outlets.

The mooted reforms have already prompted a backlash within the judiciary and among legal professionals, with more than 100 lawyers writing to the justice ministry last week expressing concerns and complaining that the sector is being ignored.