Lord chancellor David Lammy’s bill curbing jury trials will be debated in the House of Commons for the first time on 10 March as an influential group of MPs issued a call for evidence to inform scrutiny of the proposed legislation.
The House of Commons justice select committee wants submissions on the clauses in the Courts and Tribunals Bill and their overall policy objectives.
Committee chair Andy Slaughter said: ‘It is imperative that in bringing forward these proposed reforms the government explains exactly what type and number of cases will lose the right to a jury trial and how much this will contribute to reducing the backlog. Any such changes need to be evidence-based, and the committee will examine the details of the Bill in the coming weeks, informed by this call for evidence.’
The call for evidence closes on 11 March and the committee will hold its first oral evidence session on 17 March.
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Lammy’s bill has gone down badly with the profession, with many lawyers hoping the justice secretary would have a change of heart given the reaction since he announced his intentions in December to restrict the right to a jury trial.
Criminal practitioner groups are expected to call a ‘day of action’ outside the Old Bailey to protest the proposed curbs.
Labour's Karl Turner, a former shadow justice minister, is working with the Law Society and Bar Council to find a compromise for Lammy to consider. Turner is expected to ask the justice secretary to consider piloting the Leveson review recommendations for 12 months.
Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC said: 'Pilots have been raised but not by government. We are concerned that there is a move to rapidly force through legislation to reduce juries. The bar remains opposed to this further erosion of jury trials which is an important constitutional principle.'
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