UK to replace juries in minor crimes with judge-only trials to cut backlog, pending parliament approval.

The UK government plans to end jury trials for many less serious criminal cases in England and Wales, restricting them to offenses with potential sentences of three years or more, such as murder, rape, and robbery. Less serious cases, including threats to kill and burglary, will be heard by a single judge in new "Swift Courts," expected to reduce trial times by 20%. Magistrates’ sentencing powers will also increase to 18 months, reducing the number of cases sent to Crown Court. The move aims to address a growing backlog of over 78,000 pending trials, projected to reach 100,000 by 2028, with some cases delayed until 2030. The reforms require parliamentary approval and do not apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland. Critics, including legal groups, argue that years of underfunding, not jury trials, are the root cause and warn the changes won’t solve the backlog without proper resources.