Lady chief justice expresses 'grave security concerns' over judge-only trials

The lady chief justice today spoke of her 'grave' concerns for judges' security under the government's plan to curb the number of jury trials. 

However in her annual press conference, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill ‘strongly welcomed’ the government’s decision to uncap sitting days at the Crown court and allow magistrates to sit to capacity.

She added: ‘I have every confidence in magistrates and Crown court judges to step up to the challenges they will be facing’ to clear the courts backlog. ‘The numbers that are needed on current modelling are very very large. Steps are being taken to step up recruitment progress,’ she said.

Speaking of magistrates who ‘are fiercely proud of their status as volunteers’ and have an ‘enormous sense of public duty’, the LCJ said ‘training and availability of resources’ for magistrates is ‘absolutely fundamental’.

Judicial security has long been highlighted by the lady chief justice as a point of concern. Asked about security concerns with the possibility of a curb on jury trials as a result of the Courts and Tribunals Bill, she said: ‘On security, I see it as not only appropriate but my responsibility to make it as plain as I can that I have grave security concerns if there are going to be judge-alone trials. I have been assured this is all being heard and understood and resources made available.’

She added: ‘What is really concerning me is social media abuse [which] has taken a nasty turn now. Social media abuse is so difficult to control. We have got a lord chancellor who speaks out and defends the rule of law, as always. All the messages I have had to convey have been delivered and heard.’

Asked about the importance of juries, the LCJ added: ‘I think a fair justice system is incredibly important. Juries are a part of that system, they will remain part of the system, I cannot really say more than that.’