MOJ ignoring our concerns over curbs to jury trials, lawyers say

More than 100 lawyers who wrote to the Ministry of Justice expressing significant concerns about plans to severely restrict jury trials say the legal profession is being ignored.

- Jessica Elgot

The government is expected to formally announce the changes, which have caused deep division among the judiciary and senior lawyers, as soon as this week.

The letter, whose signatories include 23 king’s counsel, expressed “deep concern” at the changes and said the recommendations from Sir Brian Leveson’s report would not reduce the court backlog.

It called the plan to introduce judge-alone trials for all but the most serious offences an “irremediable error” that would end an ancient right for little benefit.

Jodie Blackstock, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, said they were alarmed at the lack of response. “The Ministry of Justice has announced it intends to go even further than the unevidenced recommendations of Sir Brian Leveson,” she said.