UK Justice Secretary Proposes Major Jury Trial Reform to Tackle Historic Court Backlog

David Lammy, the UK’s justice secretary, has announced radical plans to reform the jury system. The move aims to tackle a massive backlog of over 78,000 cases in England and Wales. These proposals were presented to Parliament in December 2025.

This initiative follows a critical review of the courts by senior judge Sir Brian Leveson. The goal is to accelerate justice and address what officials term a “court emergency.”

Scaling Back a Legal Tradition

Lammy’s plan targets “either way” offences. These are mid-level crimes where defendants can currently choose a jury trial. Under the new proposal, these cases would be heard solely by a judge or magistrates.

This would significantly reduce the number of jury trials. According to Reuters, the backlog could soon hit 100,000 cases. The system is under immense strain.

The justice secretary insists this will save the jury system for serious crimes like murder and rape. He argues justice delayed is justice denied. Lammy told The Times that preserving tradition cannot justify inaction during a crisis.

Mistaken Prisoner Releases Compound Crisis

As Lammy addresses court delays, another crisis has emerged. The prison system is grappling with a spike in mistaken inmate releases. Officials confirmed 12 erroneous releases in just three weeks, with two prisoners still at large.

This brings the total to 103 mistaken releases since April 2025. A high-profile case involved a sex offender wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford. The BBC reported his victim was left feeling anxious and fearful.

Lammy attributes many errors to outdated, paper-based systems. He announced a £10 million investment in digital and AI tools for prisons. The aim is to reduce human error and modernize operations.

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What crimes would no longer get a jury trial?

Mid-level “either way” offences like theft or some assaults would be affected. Serious crimes like murder and rape would still have jury trials. The change aims to speed up less severe cases.

Why is the court backlog so large?

Years of underfunding, staff shortages, and complex procedures created the backlog. The system was further strained by the pandemic. Over 6,000 prison officers were lost in recent years.

How many prisoners have been mistakenly released?

There have been 103 mistaken releases since April 2025. This includes 12 in a recent three-week period. Two of those individuals remain at large.

What is being done to fix the prison errors?

The government is investing £10 million in digital systems and AI. They are strengthening security checks and moving away from paper records. An independent review is also underway.

Is the jury system being completely scrapped?

No. David Lammy has explicitly stated jury trials will remain for the most serious offences. The reform seeks to preserve the system by using it more selectively to clear the backlog.

What has the political reaction been?

The opposition blames the crisis on Labour’s early release schemes. The government points to systemic failures inherited from the previous administration. The issue remains highly contentious.