Criminal bar in crisis: one in three intend to quit – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 18th, 2025 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, fees, news, statistics by sally

‘The government faces a “catastrophic loss’”of lawyers to help bring down the Crown court backlog after a national survey found that one in three criminal barristers intends to quit.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 17th March 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Significant Article 6 ECHR Decision on Courts’ Ability to Suspend Orders Pending Appeal – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted March 11th, 2025 in appeals, Crown Court, human rights, magistrates, news by sally

‘The High Court has handed down its judgment in Chief Constable of Humberside Police v Kelly Morgan [2024] EWHC 2859 (Admin). This is a significant human rights case which concerns whether the Crown Court has the power to suspend orders made by the lower court pending an ongoing appeal.The human rights arguments related to the closure order regime. Such orders are made by magistrates’ courts (pursuant to s.80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014). The High Court described the orders as “draconian” because closure orders can exclude people from their own home.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 10th March 2025

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

‘Justice should never come at such a cost’: Court delays leaving victims struggling and suicidal, report finds – The Independent

Posted March 5th, 2025 in Crown Court, delay, news, victims by sally

‘Record court backlogs are leaving victims unable to work or turning to drugs, alcohol and self-harm as they wait years for cases to reach trial, the Victims’ Commissioner has warned.’

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The Independent, 4th March 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

More funding for judges to tackle record court delays – BBC News

Posted March 5th, 2025 in budgets, Crown Court, delay, judiciary, news by sally

‘Ministers have pledged to increase the number of judges hearing criminal cases in an attempt to cut unprecedented backlogs and delays in Crown Courts in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 5th March 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Send first-time, low-level offenders to rehab instead of court, Bar Council says – The Guardian

‘First-time perpetrators of low-level crimes should be diverted from trials by paying compensation to victims or enrolling in rehabilitation to solve the courts crisis, the Bar Council has said.’

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The Guardian, 6th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Juryless trials ‘not the answer’ to court crisis, barristers warn – The Bar Council

‘Removing the right to a jury trial “is not the answer” and risks making the crisis facing the criminal justice system worse, barristers have warned.’

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The Bar Council, 6th February 2025

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Sir Brian Leveson’s review of the courts – Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog

Posted January 30th, 2025 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news by sally

‘Whatever its cause, a backlog of over 73,000 Crown court cases is not acceptable. Delays for complainants, defendants and witnesses all impede justice. In the third quarter of 2024, the Crown court received over 31,683 new cases and disposed of 29,502. The passage of time will not solve the problem. Change is inevitable.’

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Kingsley Napley Criminal Law Blog, 27th January 2025

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Courts reform to see quicker justice for victims and keeps streets safe – Ministry of Justice

‘Victims of crimes will see the perpetrators face justice more quickly under a once-in-a-generation review of criminal courts, the Lord Chancellor announced today (12 December).’

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Ministry of Justice, 12th December 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Defendants could be ‘diverted’ from criminal justice system amid record backlog – The Guardian

‘People scheduled to stand trial could be “diverted” from the criminal justice system in efforts to tackle the “unsustainable” backlog of court cases, the head of a major justice review has said.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Some jury trials may be scrapped in England and Wales as court backlog hits record high – The Guardian

Posted December 13th, 2024 in courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, judges, juries, news, statistics, trials by sally

‘Jury trials could be abandoned for some criminal cases in England and Wales under a radical overhaul proposed by ministers as the crown courts backlog hit a record high.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Record court backlog as victims wait years for justice – BBC News

‘The backlog in courts handling the most serious crimes in England and Wales has reached an unprecedented high and is likely to rise further still.’

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BBC News, 12th December 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Right to jury trial under threat as Leveson asked to carry out ‘once in generation’ review of courts – The Independent

Posted December 12th, 2024 in criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, magistrates, news, sentencing by sally

‘Sir Brian Leveson is to lead a “once in a generation” review of the courts system in England and Wales to deal with the spiralling backlog of cases.’

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The Independent, 12th December 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Abandon some jury trials or fund crisis-hit system, former chief justice says – The Guardian

Posted December 10th, 2024 in budgets, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, juries, news by sally

‘Ministers should consider abandoning jury trials for some crown court cases unless they properly fund a justice system “in serious crisis”, the former lord chief justice has said.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Lives on hold’: a day in the crown court where cases are delayed for years – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, judges, news, statistics by sally

‘Backlog in cases set to reach 100,000 in England and Wales without action on shortage of barristers and judges.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Court delays ‘driving innocent prisoners to plead guilty’ in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Court backlogs are forcing alleged offenders to spend up to five years in jail awaiting trial and driving innocent people to plead guilty, two prison watchdogs have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Changes to Procedures and Time Limits in Crown Court Asset Forfeiture Appeals – 5SAH

‘The Crown Court (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024/1131 came into effect on 2 December 2024. They amend the Crown Court Rules 1982 (“the Rules”) which provide procedures for appeals against magistrates’ court orders for the seizure and forfeiture property under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”). These amendments concern appeals against orders for all asset forfeiture proceedings in the magistrates’ court, including those made under the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 (“ATCSA”), and POCA.’

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5SAH, 3rd December 2024

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Incentivise defence solicitors for early guilty pleas, DPP tells MPs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2024 in Crown Court, delay, guilty pleas, news, solicitors by sally

‘Letting the prosecution proactively approach the defence and incentivising lawyers for early guilty pleas could make a significant dent in the Crown court backlog, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service has told MPs.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th December 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Carr hits out over civil digitisation and criminal court sitting days – Legal Futures

‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday complained to MPs about the government’s decisions to reduce the digitisation of civil justice and limit sitting days in the criminal courts.’

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Legal Futures, 27th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ministers to give magistrates in England and Wales more sentencing powers – The Guardian

‘Ministers will announce plans within days to give magistrates in England and Wales fresh powers to hand down longer custodial sentences to help reduce the backlog in crown courts and prisons, the Guardian understands.’

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The Guardian, 17th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Courts crisis laid bare as some new trials not due to start until mid-2027 – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2024 in barristers, courts, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, news, statistics, trials by sally

‘Lawyers have warned of the “implosion” of the criminal justice system, as they revealed that some trials are now being scheduled as far away as September 2027.’

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The Independent, 12th October 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk