Pros and cons of jury trials

Juries are a long-standing but much-debated element of the UK criminal justice system

Defendants in England and Wales can elect or be obliged to undergo jury trial for most non-minor offences
Defendants in England and Wales can elect or be obliged to undergo jury trial for most non-minor offences
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Fewer jury trials could take place in the UK in an effort to try and ease the strain on an overburdened justice system that is near collapse.

The Crown Court caseload has reached "almost pre-pandemic levels", with the backlog so big that some cases could have to wait until 2029 to be heard, said Sky News.

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Richard Windsor is a freelance writer for The Week Digital. He began his journalism career writing about politics and sport while studying at the University of Southampton. He then worked across various football publications before specialising in cycling for almost nine years, covering major races including the Tour de France and interviewing some of the sport’s top riders. He led Cycling Weekly’s digital platforms as editor for seven of those years, helping to transform the publication into the UK’s largest cycling website. He now works as a freelance writer, editor and consultant.