Prime Minister Andy Burnham drops plans to reduce jury trials

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has scrapped plans to curb some jury trials, the BBC reported. The original policy idea had been introduced under Sir Keir Starmer's government by David Lammy during his time as justice secretary. [1]

The former proposals would have permitted judges to make the sole decision on court cases that carry a sentence of less than three years. According to the BBC, the Ministry of Justice stated that judge-alone cases will now be limited to complex fraud and financial offences. Thousands of medium-level crimes will remain under the jurisdiction of volunteer magistrates who sit without a jury. [1]

Justice Secretary Alex Norris said he changed course after hearing the strength of feeling regarding the original proposals, the BBC reported. The decision was welcomed by criminal lawyers, while the Conservative Party described the U-turn as a major victory. [1]