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The Latest Breaking News from Crown Court

UK to deploy AI legal assistants in Crown courts to tackle record case backlog

The UK government will trial artificial intelligence-powered legal assistants in Crown Courts as it seeks to reduce a record backlog of criminal cases and speed up proceedings.

The Times of India

Government to introduce AI ‘legal assistants’ in courts to cut rising case backlog

David Lammy says that AI tools can save courts from ‘thousands of days of admin work‘

The Independent UK

Palestine Action barrister wins appeal against contempt of court charge over trial speech

Rajiv Menon KC clashed with the judge in the first trial of six Palestine Action activists

The Independent UK

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Human rights barrister condemns Labour plans to cut jury trials as 'betrayal' of party's own values

Geoffrey Robertson KC, founder of Doughty Street Chambers, referred to the plans as a ‘betrayal’ of Labour’s own party values

Evening Standard

Rosamund Pike fights back tears during curtain call of London play Inter Alia

The 47-year-old returned to the theatre last summer after more than a decade away

Evening Standard

How did the courts backlog get so bad?

Across England and Wales, delays in the Crown Courts have become an endemic feature of the justice system. Criminal trials are scheduled years after alleged offences, with some in London now being listed as far ahead as 2029.

The Conversation

Police officer who took selfies while guarding scene of teenager’s death cleared of misconduct

Ryan Connolly, 41, was cleared of four charges of misconduct in a public office at Manchester Crown Court

The Independent UK

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Victims face years-long waits for justice as UK court backlogs spiral

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The Independent UK

Revealed: Courts were nearly shut down as prisons reached breaking point in wake of 2024 riots

Senior judges and the Ministry of Justice were close to being forced to shut down the courts to stop people being sent to overflowing prisons

Evening Standard

Former Chelsea employee who created false refunds on tickets spared jail over £200,000 fraud

Claire Walsh, 39, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months at Isleworth Crown Court

The Independent UK

David Lammy's Faith-Driven Jury Cut: Christian Beliefs Spark Fury Over 'God-Told-Me' Justice Reform

Lammy jury trials faith revelation has sparked outrage, as the Justice Secretary cites Christian beliefs to justify curbing juries for faster justice amid 80,000-case backlog. Critics decry it as offensive and a rights erosion.

International Business Times UK

Criminal barristers to strike indefinitely over NI justice system ‘crisis’

Barristers say fees for legally aided criminal work have not been increased since 2005, making them worth just 50% of their original value.

Evening Standard

OPINION - Destroying jury trials because everything else is broken is a terrible idea

Tristan Kirk: While not perfect, the jury system is a treasured and historic commodity that fosters a level of trust in our courts

Evening Standard

Evil Nursery Worker, 18, Found Guilty of Child Rape After Parents Raised Alarm Over Injuries

Thomas Waller, 18, has been convicted of raping and sexually abusing children as young as three at a Surrey nursery. A judge ruled his crimes were too serious for youth court, with sentencing at crown court expected later this month.

International Business Times UK

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Evening Standard

Stonehenge protester tells court: I don’t think I come across as dangerous

The trial at Salisbury Crown Court heard the ancient monument was targeted the day before the summer solstice.

The Independent UK

Ian Watkins murder accused refuses to attend hearing on prison video link

One of two inmates accused of murdering former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield refused to attend his first Crown Court appearance on video link from the jail.

Evening Standard

One of Ian Watkins murder accused refuses to attend hearing on prison video link

Rashid Gedel, 25, who was referred to as Rico Gedel in court, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, are charged with murdering Ian Watkins at HMP Wakefield.

Evening Standard

Ex-London’s Burning star John Alford guilty of sexually assaulting two teenage girls

The 53-year-old actor was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of assaulting the two girls at a friend’s home

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Evening Standard

NHS surgeon jailed for fraud over amputation of his own legs

Neil Hopper, of St Erme, Truro, Cornwall, entered guilty pleas to the five charges against him at Truro Crown Court.

International Business Times UK

'Too Drunk to Consent?' Former Grange Hill Star John Alford Trial Takes Shocking Turn

Former TV star John Alford faces trial accused of sexually abusing two teenage girls during a 2022 party, with charges heard at St Albans Crown Court.

The Conversation

Could England and Wales introduce jury-free trials? Here’s how they work in other countries

The right to trial by jury is a fundamental part of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. But under new proposals to address a record backlog of almost 77,000 Crown Court cases, some cases could now be heard by judge alone.

The Independent UK

Proposals would see ‘most sweeping transformation of criminal courts in a generation’

IN FULL

The Independent UK

Scrap jury trials for fraud and sex assault cases to stop ‘total collapse’ of system, report suggests

The government is considering sweeping court reforms proposed in a review by Sir Brian Leveson

The Independent UK

Crown courts at ‘breaking point’ as backlog reaches new record high

Almost 77,000 crown court cases were waiting to be heard in March, figures show

Evening Standard

Britain’s Got Talent finalist says he has ‘lost everything’ after rape trial

Andrew Johnston, 30, who competed as a singer on the television programme, was cleared of raping two women after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

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