Brian Leveson

Sir Brian Leveson is a judge who recently authored a government-commissioned independent review focused on tackling the significant backlog in the courts system of England and Wales. His review is newsworthy because it proposes solutions to address the crisis, including the increased use of remote hearings and, in its initial part, controversially suggested slashing jury trials. While the second part focuses on efficiencies without legislative changes, the initial recommendation regarding jury trials has sparked debate. Keir Starmer has indicated he will not U-turn on plans to scrap some jury trials. However, a report by the Institute for Government casts doubt on the effectiveness of judge-only trials in significantly reducing the backlog, estimating time savings of less than 2%. Leveson's review remains relevant as the courts backlog continues to be a pressing issue, impacting victims and the overall administration of justice.