New justice chief supports Lammy’s jury trial limits

Prison releases halted amid safety concerns

Andy Burnham instructed Norris to suspend the scheme, designed to ease prison overcrowding, “until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public.” The decision followed the resignation of prisons minister Lord Timpson, who stepped down ahead of Burnham’s appointment as prime minister.

Norris, who took over the justice brief from David Lammy, outlined his priorities in a statement: delivering swifter justice and safer communities. He emphasized reducing the court backlog to ensure victims see justice more quickly and addressing violence against women and girls. Restoring confidence in prisons and probation was another key focus.

“We must ensure there is always space for the most dangerous offenders and the public is protected from harm,” Norris said.

Jury trial curbs remain a contentious issue

One of Lammy’s most controversial proposals—curbing jury trials—is now in Norris’s hands. Last December, while serving as a Home Office minister, Norris defended the plans, dismissing criticism as “exaggerated claims.” He argued that only 3% of trials in Britain are heard by juries and that the proposed changes would barely reduce that figure.

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“We cannot allow squeamishness about reforming the system to stand in the way of justice,” he wrote in a newsletter at the time.

The Law Society has warned against compromising fundamental safeguards. President Mark Evans said efforts to reduce court backlogs “must not come at the expense of jury trials, which are essential for public confidence in the justice system.”

Norris may find an unexpected ally in the new solicitor general, Andy Slaughter. As chair of the Commons justice committee last year, Slaughter demanded Lammy provide “clear evidence” that curbing jury trials wouldn’t undermine the justice system—a system he described as one “of which we are all still very proud.”

This isn’t just about efficiency. Jury trials have long been a cornerstone of British justice, seen as a check against state power and a reflection of community values. The debate over their role isn’t new, but the pressure to cut costs and clear backlogs has brought it to the forefront again. Whether Norris can balance speed with fairness will define his early tenure.