UK withdraws proposal for some judge-only criminal trials
The Justice Secretary said plans for some criminal trials before a judge alone would be removed from the Bill and wider court changes accelerated.
Event / data period: 2026-10-04
Published: · Updated:
England and Wales Justice Secretary Alex Norris announced changes to the Courts Bill on 4 October. The proposal to allow some criminal trials to be heard by a judge alone, without a jury, will be removed; the government says jury trials will continue for more serious cases. A separate proposal to allow technical and lengthy fraud and financial trials before a judge alone remains.
The Ministry of Justice said wider criminal-court changes would be accelerated, with a focus on reducing the pending caseload. It said about 81,000 cases were waiting in the Crown Court, nearly one-third for at least a year. The Bill is due back in the House of Commons on 13 October, and the government plans to publish its full response to the Leveson review in the coming weeks.
Data
UK withdraws proposal for some judge-only criminal trials
The Justice Secretary said plans for some criminal trials before a judge alone would be removed from the Bill and wider court changes accelerated.
- · Occurred
UK withdraws proposal for some judge-only criminal trials
The Justice Secretary said plans for some criminal trials before a judge alone would be removed from the Bill and wider court changes accelerated.
Methodology
The Bill change, caseload and parliamentary timetable are taken from the Ministry of Justice release dated 4 October 2026.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- Politics and governmentSuggested
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- United Kingdom · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
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