CROWN KILLS MAGNA CARTA - JURY TRIALS TO BE CUT
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"NO FREE MAN SHALL BE PUNISHED EXCEPT BY THE LAWFUL JUDGEMENT OF HIS PEERS"
(Magna Carta. Clause 39)
10/03/26 the Courts & Tribunals Bill passed its 2nd reading 312-245. The custodial abuse of the Crown checked since 1215 by Magna Carta (the Great Charter) burns with judge only trials and the death of trial by jury. The crown arresting, charing, prosecuting will soon again have the power to judge and jail its subjects without check. The Bill erases 812 years of civil progress and reverts the justice system back to the age of incompetent King John Plantagent.
This comprehensive but concise article concerns the trojan landmark 'Courts & Tribunal Bill' aka 'the Anti-Juries Bill.' At the time publication this has just passed its 2nd reading and seeks to reverse 812 years of civil progress ending 'trial by peers' restoring the states powers to arrest, charge, prosecute and in-prison without civilian oversight.
The article begins by providing links directly to the bill itself together with explanatory notes and bullet points the major changes. It provides the context in the form of a drop-down Q&A before looking at the history of liberties being abolished. It concludes with a mission statement and promise of things to come.
EXCLUSIONS:
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THE COURTS & TRIBUNAL BILL
His Majesty's Government (HMGs) Courts & Tribunal Bill which read by clicking here:
Removes a defendants' right to elect jury trial for "either-way" offences (mid-level crimes like theft and assault).
Allows Judge-Only trial in Crown Court for cases likely under 3 years' jail, or "complex/long" ones such as fraud or bribery (which frequently involve the police).
Increases magistrates powers to imprison go up to 18 - 24 months custody from the current 12.
Ends automatic appeal from magistrates now need permissions, removing the key safety net from judgement and bias of legally untrained state volunteers.
HMGS explanatory notes can be accessed by clicking here.
Parliaments own web page concerning the Bill can be accessed by clicking here.
CONTEXT & BACKGROUND
WHAT DOES THE BILL AIM TO ACHIEVE AND WHY
Not abolition of juries just 'tweaks' with pilots to be trialed first.
The crown court backlog of >80'000 cases. People wait years for trials.
HMG argues that juries slow the process. The allege jury trials are 3-5 days longer than a judge only trial would be.
Complex cases fraud and bribery confuse juries. Judges allegedly handle evidence better.
low level either-way offences do not need 12 'strangers'. Judges alone speeds them up.
Saves £millions in court time, frees judges for allegedly harder case.
Victims would allegedly get closure faster - no [mythical] endless waits.
"This is about justice that is fit for today. Not yesterday. Backlogg isn't a luxury its a crisis." (Lord Chancellor & Justice Secretary Rt Honourable David Lammy MP)
WHAT HAS CAUSED THE CROWN COURT BACKCLOGG?
Covid and the Emergency Workers Act 2018 (the Act) created a perfect storm resulting in the collapse of the English criminal justice system. The latter was passed November 2018 and was sold to the public as a means of protecting front line emergency worker staff such as nurses and ambulance staff from attacks. This was allegedly be achieved by making any assault on their person a stand alone offence. In reality, it was used by the crown to empower and excuse the police from committing brutality. Specifically, prior to the Act; should a police officer lay their hands on a civillian/subject illegally; that person was allowed to use proportionate force to resist.
E.g. Prior to the Emergency Workers Act 2018 if 4 police officers attacked a man with a concussion, the concussed man would be allowed to push back. With the passing of the Act the concussed man lost that right and could automatically be charged with offence on an emergency worker. They would then have to exhaust his own funds for years, proving his mental incapacity while before the police officer would simply have been disciplined. Prosecutions spiked post 2018 from 17'000 - 22'000 cases a year by 2021.
The Crown seemed to expect that the lower sentencing powers of magistrates would tempt innocent people (many of whom would automatically lose their jobs once charged and be too starved of funds to defend themselves) into just pleading guilty to the offence. However, they underestimated the publics will to resist and the vast majority demanded the trial be transferred to the crown for trial by their peers i.e. in a conflict between the civilian and the state; civilians would have the final say. This together with the incompetence of the executive in borrowing from the markets to fund just about everything conceivable save for the courts and armed forces created a perfect storm and the criminal justice system essentially collapsed.
In short, its the fault of the successive embarrassing governments, the negligent NHS and the plods.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AFTER SECOND READING
House of Common Committee Stage: line-by-line scrutiny - amendments and debates. This could technically start next week.
House of Commons Report Stage: Whole House reviews committee changes - more amendments.
House of Commons Third Reading: Final vote - In practice this a rubber stamp before sending it to the House of Lords [so called].
House of Lords First Reading: This is a formal introduction.
House of Lords: Second Reading. The Lords debate the Bill but do not vote.
House of Lords Committee: This is a very detailed scrutiny often in a Grand Committee.
House of Lords Third Readings: The Lords tweak the Bill and have a history of practically re-writing some controversial bills.
House Ping-Pong: The Commons considered the Lords suggestions and the Bill is Ping-Ponged until a final draft is agreed. The Commons have had the power to overrule the House of Lord in the Parliament Act 1911.
Royal Ascent: King Charles III considers.
812 YEARS OF CIVIL ADVANCEMENT
1214 Battle of Bouvines: The incompetence of the Crown leads to defeat and the loss of Normandy. Barons revolt.
1215: Magna Carta: The Great Charter, mother of all western constitutions is sealed at Runnymede. Rebellious Barons force the Crown to submit to trial by peers. King John defeated in a series of a battles.
1225: Henry III re-issues Magna Carta as enforceable law. The Judgement by Peers becomes enforceable law.
1297: Edward I enforces Magna Carta right to jury as law. Judgement by Peers becomes 12 ordinary citizens.
1351 Edward III Statute of Westminster adds due process to Manga Carta. Juries become standard for felonies - fair hearings guaranteed, no royal shortcuts to custody, seizure or death.
1679 Habeas Corpus Act: Reinforces jury trials to protect against unlawful detention. The Crown cannot jail its citizens without the jury's say-so.
1689 Bill of Rights: The right to trial by jury confirmed for cases of treason! Crowns powers curbed again with the end of "cruel punishments" in secret.
1825 Jurys Act: Standardises twelve-person juries, drops property qualifications. The 'common man's rights are enforced and protected. No more 'justice for the elites only.'
1949 Jurys Act: All property qualifications removed. Everyone is now eligible to sit and judge their peers. The wealth barrier is removed and access to justice flourishes.
2003 Criminal Justice Act: The Labour government attacks Magna Carta rights and the shield wobbles. Judge only trials for complex fraud piloted but never fully used.
10/03/2026: The Labour Government finally succeeds in abolishing the sacrosant principle of 'trial by peers' and Magna shield is shattered. England & Wales are to be used as a guinea pig for what is essentially a debt-ridden police state while civil liberties remain in Scotland and Northen Ireland.
COMMENT
The Hexagon of our logo is a shield representing the defence of the subject against the incompetence of the executive be it the crown, agent or any benighted form of authority. The rising colour pigmentation represents the growing force of will that advances these liberties. The faded top reminds us that the work of the law in the protection of the defenceless is never complete and guards against complacency. While our shield remains this fight is far from over!
