Why is the UK scaling back jury trials, and why is it controversial?

In December 2025, the UK Justice Secretary, David Lammy, announced reforms to limit jury trials in England and Wales due to unprecedented court backlogs. The proposal dictates that only defendants accused of serious offenses like rape, murder, or manslaughter, or cases meeting a "public-interest" test, will undergo jury trials. A new tier of "swift courts" will handle cases typically heard by juries at Crown Courts, specifically those with potential sentences of up to three years and complex fraud/financial cases. The government claims eliminating juries saves approximately 20% of trial time. The reforms will not extend to Scotland or Northern Ireland, and the government will allocate £550 million for victim support services.

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