My excellent friend @junesim63 draws my attention to the point that the odious Sarah Pouchin was a magistrate for 17 years (before she faced a formal reprimand in 2018. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) found she had used her status as a magistrate to try and influence colleagues' political views during a meeting, which was ruled as misconduct.)..

#defendourjuries

The following would LOSE the right to be tried by Jury
​Theft and Burglary
Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)
​Non-fatal strangulation
Stalking (involving fear of violence)
Controlling or coercive behaviour
​Drug supply and possession
​Fraud and financial crimes (if deemed exceptionally technical or lengthy)
#defendourjuries
Think how this may impact you If you were a woman

Alicia Kearns in the HOfC has Just said, "How can one individual, as a man understand my experiences as a woman"

Neil Shasti-Hurst "This is of such constitutional significance it should have been in the manifesto"

He's got a point.

#defendourjuries

Neil Shasti-Hurst "This is of such constitutional significance it should have been in the manifesto"

He's got a point.

He goes on to say, "There is a reason jury trials have endured. It is because the public trust them"

#defendourjuries

Why the backlog !

Between 2010 & 2024, the Tory government closed 244 courts and tribunals in England and Wales: 43% of the entire court estate!

​Breakdown of Closures (2010–2019)
​The majority of these closures occurred during major reform programs aimed at digitizing the justice system and reducing costs.
​Magistrates' Courts: 162 closed (over 50% of the total).
​County Courts: 90 closed.
​Tribunal Buildings: 18 closed.
​Family Courts: 17 closed.
​Crown Courts: 8 closed
#defendourjuries

Should you be interested to know, they have just divided for the Courts and Tribunals Bill
#defendourjuries

"I have heard victims saying that waiting three years for a case to come to court is worse than rape itself."

What a thing to say!!!!

The grossly offensive and nauseating language of Warinder Juss Labour MP for Wolverhampton West 10 March 2026

#defendourjuries

There goes Jess Philips, using attacks on women as a justification for removing people’s rights to a jury trial - specifically a case where a man is accused of stalking her. #Labour #HumanRights #DefendOurJuries
Jess Phillips backs jury bill as she reveals she is ‘victim of courts backlog’ | Violence against women and girls | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/10/jess-phillips-backs-jury-bill-victim-courts-backlog

Karl Turner brings up statistics about magistrates

"In 2025 ethnic minority judges 67,
Unknown 42, white 637.
The overwhelming majority of all magistrates were men"

#defendourjuries

3/4 of Magistrates attended Oxbridge

How useful is this?

#defendourjuries

Ayes 203 Nos 311. Maj 108

Lammy’s bill passes

By virtue of the fact that the House rejected the Conservative amendment to the Courts and Tribunals Bill

#defendourjuries

Ayes 203 Nos 311. Maj 108

Lammy’s bill passes

By virtue of the fact that the House rejected the Conservative amendment to the Courts and Tribunals Bill

#defendourjuries

Should you be interested to know, they have just divided for the Courts and Tribunals Bill
#defendourjuries