The Latest Breaking News from Brian Leveson

Report to tackle courts’ backlog also recommends new criminal justice adviser to oversee courts, prisons and policing

Sir Brian Leveson, who was appointed by the government to conduct an independent review of the courts system, has urged the government to adopt his ideas in full

‘Released under investigation’ leads to uncertainty and distress for both victim and accused, say campaigners

David Lammy says radical action is needed to tackle the backlog as he defends his highly controversial decision to reform the courts

THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: The lord chancellor is right to adopt urgent measures to tackle a court backlog that is ruining lives and depriving so many of justice – but even if it takes years, the general presumption of a basic right to trial by jury must be restored

Editorial: Instead of rebuilding a cash-starved system, ministers propose removing protections. The country needs investment, not the hollowing out of justice

Justice secretary David Lammy has announced one of the most significant changes to criminal justice in England and Wales in decades, by scrapping the use of jury trials for most offences that carry a likely jail sentence of less than three years.

Justice secretary says record backlog is failing victims and defendants, but there are concerns about lack of diversity among judges

Only cases such as murder and rape or offences carrying sentence longer than three years would face jury under plans