Judge-only trials in England and Wales will not wipe out crown court backlog, report says

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Haroon Siddique and Rajeev SyalJanuary 22, 2026 at 01:01 AM

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A report by the Institute for Government (IFG) suggests that David Lammy's proposed judge-only trials in England and Wales will have a minimal impact on reducing the crown court backlog. The IFG estimates time savings of less than 2%, despite a potential 50% reduction in jury trials. The report argues that the proposed changes are unlikely to substantially reduce the backlog because a significant portion of court time is spent on other types of cases, and the trials moved would be less serious, shorter cases. The IFG recommends focusing on improving court productivity through workforce investment and technology. The proposals have faced criticism from the legal profession and politicians, with concerns raised about public confidence in the justice system. The government has conducted its own impact assessment, but has yet to publish it.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Labour Party 40% Brian Leveson 50% Cassia Rowland 60% United Kingdom Government ×370% England 70% Wales 70% Institute for Government (IFG) ×380% David Lammy ×280%

Keywords

judge-only trials 100% crown court backlog 90% criminal justice system 70% jury trials 70% court reform 60% magistrates' courts 50% institute for government 50% court productivity 40%