Ministers drop wider judge-only trials, but retain other jury reforms

The government has abandoned plans to expand judge-only trials across a wider range of Crown Court cases, the Ministry of Justice announced on Sunday, 4 October. Justice Secretary Alex Norris said opposition to the proposals had prompted a change of course.

What remains in the bill

The reversal is partial. Ministers still propose allowing lengthy, technical fraud and financial cases to proceed without a jury. Courts would also decide where cases are heard, removing defendants’ ability to elect a Crown Court trial for some offences. The changes are intended for the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which the department says returns to the Commons on 13 October; today’s announcement does not itself enact them.

The backlog is still unresolved

The ministry reports almost 81,000 outstanding Crown Court cases, nearly a third waiting at least a year. Norris argues that the revised approach would let wider reforms proceed sooner. That is the government’s expectation, rather than evidence that waiting times have already fallen.

Capacity concerns remain

ITV reports that the Law Society welcomed the retreat but warned against moving more work into magistrates’ courts without adding capacity. The Victims’ Commissioner also questioned the revised approach. For victims and defendants, the next test is how the legislation and court resources change in practice.