"This week the justice secretary, David Lammy, announced sweeping changes to the criminal justice system that will significantly reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales. Under the radical plans, jury trials will be reserved for cases in indictable-only offences such as murder or rape, and either-way offences (those where the defendant can currently decide whether they will be tried by a jury or magistrates), with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison."
"As defendants, we were really concerned, Javid says. We thought we would be up against a jury with certain stereotypes about Pakistani men from Rotherham, even though we had absolutely nothing to do with the grooming scandal. We thought it was hook, line and sinker, we were done for. Slam dunk. But over a six-week trial the all-white jury listened carefully, he noticed. They seemed quite a good mix of young, old, men, women, he says. Finally, all 10 men who were on trial were found not guilty."
The justice secretary announced plans to sharply reduce jury trials in England and Wales by reserving them for indictable-only offences and either-way offences likely to attract more than three years' imprisonment. Plans to remove jury trials for cases with a maximum five-year sentence were scaled back, but the proposals have prompted strong opposition from MPs, lawyers and campaigners. People with direct jury experience described concerns about bias and stereotyping in heavily scrutinised communities. One defendant recalled fearing assumptions against Pakistani men in Rotherham, yet described an all-white jury that listened carefully and returned not-guilty verdicts.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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