magistrates

Suspects should be tried by a judge and two lay magistrates, says top judge

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Suspects should be tried by a judge and two lay magistrates rather than juries to allow for social-distancing as Crown courts tackle backlog of 41,000 cases, says Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said the new arrangement could come in for less serious offences  He said involvement of magistrates would maintain public involvement in justice Judges are … Read more

Judges and magistrates must consider Covid-crisis gripping prisons, Lord Burnett says

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The most senior judge in England and Wales has said judges and magistrates must consider how the coronavirus crisis is affecting conditions in prisons when deciding whether to jail offenders after nearly 350 prisoners tested positive for coronavirus.  The Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett believes that those in charge of passing sentences should take into … Read more