#612 | Should Britain Abolish Jury Trials?

 

Who should decide if you are guilty: the state, or a group of 12 ordinary citizens?

 

England is now considering getting rid of jury trials for thousands of cases. It would be the biggest change to the justice system since the Middle Ages.

 

• Crown Court backlog: years-long waits for trials.
• Government bill to limit juries for mid-level offences.
• Serious crimes still keep juries: murder, rape, terrorism.
• Legal community warns against losing a key safeguard.
• How jury trials work in England and Wales.
• England uses juries; Europe uses judge-led trials.
• History: Athens, Assize of Clarendon, Magna Carta.
• Purpose of juries: legitimacy, independence, protect against state power.
• Jury nullification shown: Penn, Ponting, Bristol Colston statue.
• Debate: efficiency versus rights, slippery slope concerns.

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/jury-trials

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