‘The UK is the country Shamima Begum was born, raised, groomed and radicalised in. Like any Briton accused of any crime – she must have the right to a fair trial, writes human rights lawyer Shoaib M Khan.’
Each Other, 17th July 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘Ten temporary courts are being set up to help clear a backlog of hearings caused by the coronavirus pandemic.’
BBC News, 19th July 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The Secretary of State for Justice recently confirmed that the government is considering whether to introduce primary legislation to suspend jury trials for offences triable either way as a way to address the backlog of criminal cases arising from the public health crisis. This development has caused alarm amongst practitioners who might be hoping that Humphreys J was right when he said: “I cannot bring myself to believe that there are any persons other than the inmates of a lunatic asylum who would vote in favour of the abolition of trial by jury in serious criminal cases” (Do We Need a Jury? [1954] Crim LR 457).’
6 KBW College Hill, 30th June 2020
Source: blog.6kbw.com
‘Proposals to scrap juries for some trials to reduce court backlogs would remove the “only part of the criminal justice process” proven not to discriminate against minority ethnic groups, a legal expert has warned.’
Each Other, 9th July 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
‘So reports Owen Bowcott, the legal affairs correspondent for The Guardian today. “Nightingale” courts being venues which have been identified as suitable for trials utilising public spaces such a civic centres or university moot halls; apparently to be renamed Blackstone Courts.’
Thomas More Chambers, 3rd July 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘Imagine that you are a juror in a trial in which the chief witness for the prosecution gives evidence about the alleged crime which is completely at odds with the evidence given by the accused. One of them is either very badly mistaken or lying. On what basis will you decide which one of them is telling the truth? And how sure can you be in your conclusion?’
OUP Blog, 7th July 2020
Source: blog.oup.com
‘The backlog of untried cases in the criminal justice system – which has ballooned during lockdown – could take a decade to clear, an official watchdog has warned.’
The Guardian, 30th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Virtual trials with physical jury hubs could be an effective way of clearing the significant Crown court backlog caused by Covid-19, academics evaluating the latest experiment from a legal thinktank have said.’
Law Society's Gazette, 19th June 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Less serious crimes should be tried in crown courts before a judge without a jury in order to tackle the thousands of cases building up during the pandemic crisis, judges have suggested.’
The Guardian, 16th June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘For seven weeks Covid-19 shut the doors of jury trials in England and Wales. On 11th May 2020, the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor announced the resumption of new jury trials in “certain courtrooms under certain conditions” from 18th May 2020. In the interim, two guinea pig trials resumed at the Old Bailey.’
Doughty Street Chambers, 18th May 2020
Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk
‘Gerry Adams has won his appeal to have two convictions for attempting to escape from prison in the 1970s overturned.’
BBC News, 13th May 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Two jury trials will resume at the Old Bailey this week as first steps toward Crown court cases restarting around the country. However, the criminal bar warned that a resumption of normal service “remains many weeks off”.’
Law Society's Gazette, 10th May 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Defendants should be allowed to opt for trial by judge rather than in front of a jury, a prominent human rights lawyer has proposed, as a means of partially restarting the criminal justice system.’
The Guardian, 26th April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The prospect of jury trials restarting has come closer with news that the judiciary has set up a working party to consider how they can be brought back as soon as it is safe to do so. The news comes shortly after lord chancellor Robert Buckland said he wanted jury trials back up and running as quickly as possible.’
Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘An Old Bailey judge has ruled that a man can go on trial on the same murder charges for a fifth time.’
BBC News, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The coronavirus (COVID-19) and the government “lockdown” has bought about interesting times and the Coronavirus Act 20201, in particular ss.53-57 (with Schedules 23-27).’
Thomas More Chambers, 15th April 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
‘Campaign group Justice has run an experimental fully remote jury trial to test whether it could be a fair alternative to face-to-face hearings during the coronavirus lockdown.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
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