Story perspectives

Labour's Jury Trial Cuts Spark Backlash Over Justice Trust

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Labour government's proposal to cut jury trials by half is drawing significant criticism.
Critics say juries protect public trust in justice and guard against government overreach.
David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, previously opposed jury abolition but now supports judge-only trials for some offenses.
The Institute for Government and Brian Leveson question the proposals' effectiveness, attributing the court backlog to chronic underfunding.

1 of 1

Story summary

The Labour government's proposal to cut jury trials by half is drawing significant criticism.
Critics say juries protect public trust in justice and guard against government overreach.
David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, previously opposed jury abolition but now supports judge-only trials for some offenses.
The Institute for Government and Brian Leveson question the proposals' effectiveness, attributing the court backlog to chronic underfunding.