UK Crown Court Judges to Sit for Additional 4,000 Days to Tackle Case Backlog
In a bid to address the escalating backlog of cases in the UK’s Crown Courts, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced that judges will sit for an additional 4,000 days in the next financial year. This move aims to accelerate the delivery of justice for victims, many of whom face lengthy delays in seeing their cases resolved.
The total number of sitting days for Crown Court judges will rise to 110,000, up from 106,000 in the previous year. While this increase marks a step forward, it remains below the 113,000 days suggested by the Lady Chief Justice as the system’s maximum capacity.
The backlog of cases in England and Wales has reached a staggering 73,105 as of September 2023, nearly double the number from five years ago. Despite the additional sitting days, the backlog is projected to grow further due to the high volume of new cases entering the system. Some victims may now face waits until 2028 for their cases to be heard.
The extra sitting days will be funded as part of a £3.5 billion budget allocated to courts and tribunals for the upcoming financial year. This funding will also extend to immigration and asylum tribunal cases, aiming to streamline the processing of asylum claims.
In addition to increasing sitting days, the government has boosted funding for court repairs and maintenance, raising it from £120 million last year to £148.5 million this year. This includes addressing critical issues at facilities like Harrow Crown Court, which has been closed since August 2023 due to structural concerns related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).
While legal organizations have welcomed the increase in sitting days, some have expressed concerns that it does not go far enough. The Law Society pointed out that the allocation remains below the maximum capacity suggested by the Lady Chief Justice, while the Criminal Bar Association has called for sitting days to be uncapped for at least the next five years to adequately address the backlog.
The announcement comes as the government awaits the findings of a major review led by Sir Brian Leveson into potential reforms of the court system. The review, expected to report in the spring, is considering significant changes, including adjustments to which types of cases are eligible for jury trials, in an effort to further alleviate the backlog.
While the additional sitting days represent a positive step toward reducing delays, Justice Secretary Mahmood has acknowledged that more comprehensive reforms will likely be necessary to effectively tackle the backlog in the long term.
UK Crown Court Judges to Sit for Additional 4,000 Days to Tackle Case Backlog
In a bid to address the escalating backlog of cases in the UK’s Crown Courts, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced that judges will sit for an additional 4,000 days in the next financial year. This move aims to accelerate the delivery of justice for victims, many of whom face lengthy delays in seeing their cases resolved.
The total number of sitting days for Crown Court judges will rise to 110,000, up from 106,000 in the previous year. While this increase marks a step forward, it remains below the 113,000 days suggested by the Lady Chief Justice as the system’s maximum capacity.
The backlog of cases in England and Wales has reached a staggering 73,105 as of September 2023, nearly double the number from five years ago. Despite the additional sitting days, the backlog is projected to grow further due to the high volume of new cases entering the system. Some victims may now face waits until 2028 for their cases to be heard.
The extra sitting days will be funded as part of a £3.5 billion budget allocated to courts and tribunals for the upcoming financial year. This funding will also extend to immigration and asylum tribunal cases, aiming to streamline the processing of asylum claims.
In addition to increasing sitting days, the government has boosted funding for court repairs and maintenance, raising it from £120 million last year to £148.5 million this year. This includes addressing critical issues at facilities like Harrow Crown Court, which has been closed since August 2023 due to structural concerns related to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac).
While legal organizations have welcomed the increase in sitting days, some have expressed concerns that it does not go far enough. The Law Society pointed out that the allocation remains below the maximum capacity suggested by the Lady Chief Justice, while the Criminal Bar Association has called for sitting days to be uncapped for at least the next five years to adequately address the backlog.
The announcement comes as the government awaits the findings of a major review led by Sir Brian Leveson into potential reforms of the court system. The review, expected to report in the spring, is considering significant changes, including adjustments to which types of cases are eligible for jury trials, in an effort to further alleviate the backlog.
While the additional sitting days represent a positive step toward reducing delays, Justice Secretary Mahmood has acknowledged that more comprehensive reforms will likely be necessary to effectively tackle the backlog in the long term.
Conclusion
The announcement of an additional 4,000 sitting days for UK Crown Court judges represents a significant step toward addressing the growing case backlog. While the increase brings the total to 110,000 days, it remains below the system’s maximum capacity of 113,000 days. The current backlog of 73,105 cases as of September 2023 highlights the urgency of the situation, with victims potentially facing waits until 2028. The £3.5 billion budget allocation and increased funding for court maintenance are positive measures, but concerns from legal organizations suggest that more comprehensive reforms may be necessary. The upcoming review led by Sir Brian Leveson could pave the way for further changes, such as adjustments to jury trial eligibility, to alleviate the backlog more effectively. In conclusion, while the additional sitting days are a move in the right direction, long-term solutions will likely require more extensive reforms to ensure justice is delivered promptly for all victims.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the total number of sitting days allocated for Crown Court judges in the next financial year?
- The total number of sitting days for Crown Court judges will rise to 110,000 in the next financial year.
- How much has the case backlog increased in England and Wales?
- The backlog of cases in England and Wales has reached 73,105 as of September 2023, nearly double the number from five years ago.
- How is the increase in sitting days being funded?
- The additional sitting days are being funded as part of a £3.5 billion budget allocated to courts and tribunals for the upcoming financial year.
- Will the additional sitting days be enough to reduce the backlog?
- While the additional sitting days are a positive step, the backlog is still projected to grow due to the high volume of new cases. Some victims may face waits until 2028.
- How have legal organizations responded to the announcement?
- Legal organizations have welcomed the increase in sitting days but expressed concerns that it does not go far enough. Some have called for sitting days to be uncapped for at least the next five years to adequately address the backlog.
- What is the purpose of the review led by Sir Brian Leveson?
- The review led by Sir Brian Leveson is considering potential reforms to the court system, including changes to which types of cases are eligible for jury trials, to help alleviate the backlog.
