EDM: Jury trial rights · GB Politics

Jury trial rights

Tabled by Karl Turner (Independent) 35 signatures

The motion

That this House expresses grave concern at recent Government proposals to abolish or severely restrict the right to trial by jury in England and Wales by limiting jury trials to cases attracting sentences of less than three years; notes that trial by jury has been a centuries-old constitutional safeguard and cornerstone of liberty and democracy in our country; further notes that a jury of one's peers plays a unique role in ensuring fairness and impartiality, drawing on diverse life experiences, local standards, and community values when evaluating evidence and credibility; is deeply troubled that replacing juries with judge-only courts for most criminal trials risks concentrating judicial power in a way that undermines transparency, public confidence, and judicial independence; recognises that the courts system faces serious challenges, including an unprecedented case backlog, long delays for victims and defendants, and pressure on resources; therefore calls on the Government to abandon proposals to abolish or restrict jury trials, and instead commit to increasing judicial sitting days, recruiting more recorders to sit in the Crown Courts, utilising disused court space, modernising court capacity, directing the Crown Prosecution Service to review cases where a lesser plea may be acceptable, and instructing the independent bar to review cases stalled while awaiting court time; and affirms that there are proper alternatives to put victims at the forefront of the justice system without attacking the fundamental right to trial before one’s peers of twelve good men, women and true.

Signatories (35)