Justice Cannot Wait: The Liberal Democrat Plan to Fix Our Broken Courts and Save the Jury Trial

The British justice system is a  pillar of our democracy for centuries and it is being pushed to the point of collapse. Today, the Crown Court backlog stands at a staggering 80,000 cases. This isn't just a number on a spreadsheet; it represents thousands of victims left in limbo, witnesses whose memories fade over years of waiting, and defendants denied their right to a timely trial.

​Under the current Labour government, the proposed solution is as radical as it is dangerous: a plan to "slash" the number of jury trials. At the same time, we are still living with the toxic legacy of Conservative mismanagement that hollowed out our legal infrastructure.

​The Liberal Democrats say enough, we don't need to scrap our constitutional rights to fix the backlog. We need to super-charge our courts.

​Protecting Our Fundamental Liberties

​The right to be tried by a jury of one’s peers is a cornerstone of British liberty. Yet, Justice Secretary David Lammy has described jury trials as a "peculiar way to run a public service." This language is deeply concerning. Juries are not a "peculiar" inconvenience; they are the ultimate safeguard of fairness.

​Jess Brown-Fuller MP, the Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, has led the charge against these proposals, writing directly to the Justice Secretary to express the party's grave concerns. 

​“David Lammy’s plans to slash jury trials are an insult to victims left waiting for justice and will do nothing to tackle the spiralling backlog. Jury trials are a cornerstone of our justice system and a fundamental safeguard of fairness and liberty.”Jess Brown-Fuller MP, the Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson

​The Liberal Democrat Solution: The "Two-Trial" Court Day

​While the government looks for shortcuts that undermine our rights, the Liberal Democrats have proposed a pragmatic, evidence-based reform to increase capacity without cutting corners.

​Currently, Crown Courtrooms sit for an average of only 3.2 hours a day. This is an absurd waste of resources when the backlog is at record levels. Our plan would transition select Crown Courts to a "Two-Trial" system:

​Morning and Afternoon Sessions: Moving from a single midday session to two distinct trials per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

​Doubling Sitting Time: This simple shift would nearly double the sitting time in participating courtrooms.

​Support for Professionals: By structuring the day more efficiently, we provide legal professionals with more protected, predictable time for case preparation.

​"After years of Conservative mismanagement, the courts need serious, evidence-based reform that will fix the broken system, rather than headline grabbing shortcuts. That’s why Liberal Democrats are calling for courts to double their sitting hours." ​"Our proposals would improve efficiencies and give listing officers the flexibility to list more cases in a shorter time."Jess Brown-Fuller MP

​Ending the Cycle of Neglect

​To truly fix the system, we must address the systemic failures that have allowed the backlog to balloon. The Liberal Democrat strategy includes a "raft of reforms" to tackle the root causes of delay:

​Ending "Contract Failure": We must renegotiate failing private contracts for prisoner transportation. Companies like Serco have overseen failures that cause the loss of a whole court day every single week because defendants simply aren't delivered to court on time.

​Fixing the Crumbling Estate: We would cancel planned real-terms cuts to the Ministry of Justice capital budget. It is a national embarrassment that trials are routinely cancelled due to flooding, broken heating, or unsafe ceilings.

​Investing in the Workforce: We are calling for an immediate uplift in legal aid fees to ensure a sustainable future for the criminal bar and to address the chronic shortage of judges.

"This proposal sits alongside the Liberal Democrats commitment to restore the 2011-12 level of legal aid funding and invest in the recruitment of judges to ensure these extra hours are staffed by qualified professionals." 

​A Better Way Forward

​Justice delayed is justice denied. But the answer to a slow system is not a less fair one. The Liberal Democrats are the only party offering a path that clears the backlog while fiercely defending the right to a jury trial.

​We are calling for an emergency package to double court capacity and treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves. It is time to stop the "headline-grabbing shortcuts" and start the hard work of rebuilding a justice system that works for everyone.

​“After years of Conservative mismanagement, the courts need serious, evidence-based reform that will fix the broken system... That’s why Liberal Democrats are calling for our Crown Courts to be super-charged.”— Jess Brown-Fuller MP