The Government is stepping back from its proposal to introduce judge-only trials, but significant concerns remain about its plans to still restrict access to jury trials.
Responding to the announcement, Hannah Couchman, Senior Legal Officer (Criminal Law) at Rights of Women, said today:
“This announcement shows that government recognises the dangers of restricting access to jury trials, but it is refusing to address the concerns of the VAWG sector and scrap these proposals altogether.
Confidence in the justice system and access to a fair trial are critical. We know that women, Black people and older people elect for trial at the Crown Court at higher rates than other groups. We also know that trust in the justice system is lowest among minoritised communities.
The restriction on electing trial by a jury further embeds misogynistic and racist attitudes that already exist in our criminal justice system. This does not serve the interests of survivors and will not address court backlogs.”
In March 2026, Rights of Women, together with 30 organisations from across the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector, wrote to the Government calling for it to rethink proposals to restrict access to jury trials. The letter highlighted the lived reality for many women who are both victims of violence and defendants in the criminal justice system, and the need for their experiences of violence, discrimination and inequality to be properly understood when they are facing criminalisation themselves. More broadly, restricting access to jury trials would erode a critical safeguard that protects fairness and justice across the criminal justice system for everyone.
The Government’s decision to step back from its proposal for judge-only trials marks a significant change in its approach. However, substantial restrictions on jury trials remain. The Government is still proposing to restrict a defendant’s right to elect for a jury trial in an “either way” case, as well as introduce changes that would allow more cases carrying sentences of up to two years to be dealt with in magistrates’ courts rather than the Crown Court.
Every survivor deserves a criminal justice system that is fair, effective and capable of delivering justice without compromising fundamental safeguards. Tackling the unacceptable court backlog requires measures that address its underlying causes, not restrictions on access to justice.
Read our original joint letter to the Government.
Read our latest letter to the Lord Chancellor
https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/government-steps-back-from-judge-only-trials-but-must-go-further-on-jury-trial-reforms/