David Lammy: ‘I don’t want to scrap juries. This is about saving them.’
The justice secretary is expected to announce that he is scrapping jury trials for ‘either way’ cases, including those for assault, burglary and drug dealing.
Blogger: So. One big question: this suggests to me that Lammy is plotting to reduce sentences for some very serious crimes.
He surely cannot be wanting to use the Magistracy for seriously heavy sentencing. Can he?
The powers of magistrates to imprison would have to be multiplied by at least FORTY times for that to work.
Secondly, why these particular offences? There are many others just as heinous.
Thirdly, if a person is facing, let's say, a fifteen year sentence for top end drug dealing - should that not have a jury?
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