Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years

Jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years will be scrapped, the justice secretary has announced.

The reforms to the justice system include creating "swift courts" under the government's plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system.

Serious offences including murder, robbery and rape will still go before a jury, and volunteer community magistrates, who deal with the majority of all criminal cases, will take on even more work.

David Lammy said the reforms were "bold" but "necessary", but the Conservatives described the plans as the "beginning of the end of jury trials".

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5808966&forum_id=2id.#49501188)

Judge awaiting BOM as he wheels down the jetway at Heathrow, pointing gavel squarely at him: YOU are a fraud

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5808966&forum_id=2id.#49501309)

"$--!?!"

*BOM clicks his joystick, a smoke rocket fires out from the armrest and strikes the black robed thug, covering the courtroom in a shroud of black smoke*

*BOMs other hand cranks a handbrake, the wheelchair falls over backwards, he clicks the handbrake, firing out a grappling hook that pierces thru the glass cupola*

BOM ascends. "Die Frauds!"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5808966&forum_id=2id.#49501323)

Lammy said the new system would get cases dealt with a fifth faster than jury trials.

He added that it was necessary as current projections have Crown Court case loads reaching 100,000 by 2028, from the current backlog of almost 78,000.

This means that currently a suspect being charged with an offence today may not reach trial until 2030.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5808966&forum_id=2id.#49501346)