Victims’ advocate stresses the importance of prioritizing victims’ voices amidst the contentious discussions between legal professionals and policymakers regarding the reduction of jury trials. Claire Waxman, the newly appointed Victims’ Commissioner, emphasizes the need to challenge longstanding legal norms to address the current court backlog effectively.
In response to the government’s initiative to decrease jury trials to alleviate the backlog, Waxman, a former stalking victim, supports the call for significant reforms to prevent victims from being further let down by the justice system. She asserts that the existing system, which forces survivors to endure lengthy delays before obtaining justice, is failing in its fundamental purpose.
Waxman acknowledges the need for change and cautions that maintaining the status quo is unsustainable, as it risks alienating victims from seeking justice and allows offenders to evade accountability. She urges for urgent action to rectify the crisis and ensure that victims’ interests are not overshadowed by debates over traditional legal practices.
The proposed modifications, following a comprehensive review by retired judge Sir Brian Leveson, include the introduction of judge-only trials as a measure to expedite court proceedings. Despite opposition from some Labour MPs, the government aims to implement these changes to address the inefficiencies in the judicial process.
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman defends the reforms, highlighting the prolonged duration of jury trials compared to previous years and the adverse impact on victims awaiting resolution. She stresses the necessity of not solely relying on increased funding but also implementing structural changes to streamline the legal process.
Critics of the plan, such as Riel Karmy-Jones KC, express concerns that altering the jury system may jeopardize the integrity of the justice system and erode public trust. They argue that juries play a crucial role in upholding fairness and impartiality in legal proceedings and caution against hasty reforms that could undermine the credibility of the judicial system.