Brian Leveson unveils radical proposals to clear huge backlog in crown courtsThousands of defendants in England and Wales could lose the right to a jury trial under plans designed to save the criminal justice system from collapse.Sir Brian Leveson, a former judge asked by the government to come up with proposals to tackle a record courts backlog, said he had been forced to make recommendations he did not “rejoice in”.The creation of a new division of the crown court in which a judge and two magistrates hear “either way” offences – those in which the defendant can currently choose to be heard by either a magistrate or a jury in the crown court.Removing the rightto be tried in the crown court for offences that carry a maximum sentence of no more than two years.Reclassifying some either way offences so they can be tried only in a magistrates court.Trial by judge alone for serious and complex fraud cases.The right for all crown court defendants to elect to be tried by a judge alone. Continue reading...