The Bar Council

The Bar Council represents all barristers in England and Wales.

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

"If the government replaces proposals for judge-only trials with trials by a judge plus two magistrates we are out of the frying pan and into the fire."

Chair @Kirsty_Brimelow KC's letter to the Times today sets out why we are completely opposed to any restriction on jury trials.

Read on (subscription required)⤵️

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[4PB @4PBFamilyLaw]

Nicola Wallace has been invited to join a panel discussion hosted by @thebarcouncil on "Thriving in Your First Years of Practice: Building a Strong Barrister-Solicitor Relationship", alongside Selva Ramasamy KC, Julie Norris and Lisa Pepper.

Aimed at barristers and solicitors in their first 7 years of practice, the panel will explore the foundations of a strong and effective barrister-solicitor relationship, what's important when it comes to collaboration, what makes great client care, and what can go wrong.

Click here to learn more and register: https://t.co/eATnR6yKTf

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

The Justice Committee has criticised the government's plan to limit the right to a jury trial because it lacks "a concrete evidential basis”.

In the Times today, our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC said "it’s difficult to understand why the government has not sought to achieve a broader consensus both in and outside parliament on these proposals before pushing ahead…”

Read more: https://t.co/Y22U6tT0Jl

#JusticeNeedsJuries
@Kirsty_Brimelow

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

https://t.co/BECmcNcEYn

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

The Justice Committee has today published its report on the Courts and Tribunals Bill, setting out several issues with the bill.

We agree with the Justice Committee’s conclusion that it’s difficult to understand why the government has not sought to achieve a broader consensus both in and outside Parliament on these proposals before pushing ahead with them.

Read our full response and the report⤵️

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[Kirsty Brimelow KC @Kirsty_Brimelow]

An inspiring morning acting as a lead magistrate at the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial competition. Year 9/10 schoolchildren with @YoungCitizensUK

Expertly organised by Young Citizens and it was a pleasure to spend time with magistrates and with the Resident Judge of Croydon Crown Court. Staff of the court also gave up their time @HMCTSgovuk and were brilliant.

#socialmobility

[JUSTICE @JUSTICEhq]

'It's essential we keep public participation in the justice system.'

Chair of @thebarcouncil, @Kirsty_Brimelow KC on why jury trials shouldn't be curtailed & how to really fix the courts backlog.

Sign up to our weekly juries newsletter to stay updated: https://t.co/2SzwbQ4rya

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

There can be no dispute that there are repeated and widespread failures to deliver defendants to court on time.

Barristers have told us that delays are now ‘routine’ and ‘endemic’.

@Kirsty_Brimelow KC, speaking to the Times, explained that these delays are worsening the Crown Court backlog: "The result is that hours and sometimes whole days are wasted in courts each day.

"PECS is one of many broken links in the chain responsible for ensuring individuals in custody are in court for their case...

"This must be addressed urgently rather than any more time and resource being wasted on limiting jury trials."

If you experience a delay, please tell us about it through our dedicated PECS delay form: https://t.co/DZ8uTglfvC

Read more in the Times ➡️ https://t.co/DZ8uTglfvC

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

@AllanCompton7 Up in Newcastle, leader of the North Eastern Circuit Caroline Goodwin KC and barrister Lorraine Mustard welcomed MPs Liz Twist and Catherine McKinnell.

Inefficiencies caused by prisoner delays, the forensic science service and lack of court staff were among the topics discussed.

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

Today we are hosting MPs in courts across England and Wales to hear about the issues affecting the criminal justice system as part of our #JusticeNeedsJuries campaign.

First stop Merthyr Tydfil👇

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

@AllanCompton7 We are collecting examples of these delays to illustrate the impact on the trial process.

Please fill out the form for each experience 👇 https://t.co/jJkF6PNUdi

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare MP Gerald Jones met with barrister Alex Greenwood (Apex chambers) and other barristers at Merthyr Crown and magistrates’ courts.

Discussions centred around how limiting jury trials will do nothing to bring down the backlog. Several made the point that if the backlog is the supposed justification for the change, it has even less of a standing in Wales as the backlog is far lower than in areas in England.

They also discussed how access to justice has been reduced for some communities in Wales as at least 27 courts have closed since 2010.

Thanks to Gerald Jones MP for his time and to the barristers at court for sharing their views.

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

We’ve invited MPs to these courts tomorrow to come and hear from you about the issues affecting the court, and the wider criminal justice system, as well as what's working well.

If you're in court tomorrow, please share your views with them.

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

Today the government has published a Youth Justice White Paper, which proposes a range of measures to stop young people falling into crime.

We've welcomed this proactive approach to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system, but funding must be sufficient and must not lag behind.

Bar Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC has called for a shift from criminalisation to rehabilitation.

Read more in the Law Gazette ➡️ https://t.co/EdHr7WVjbw

[Law Society Gazette @lawsocgazette]

⚖️On a Crown court visit, rebel MP Charlotte Nichols and bar chair Kirsty Brimelow heard about what’s really ailing criminal justice. 

It’s not jury trials.

Monidipa Fouzder reports:

https://t.co/UGhp9cxVAg

[Kirsty Brimelow KC @Kirsty_Brimelow]

Good to speak to @lawsocgazette on why the government should not go ahead with reducing juries. I stressed:

‘You need to deal with what’s happening now. How do you do that? Open up the courts – the government has done that. Put money into the system – the government pledged a £34m increase in legal aid on 3 December 2025. They have not done it yet; there has been no consultation. That would address the workforce issue. Listings – you can learn from the courts having to get on with it themselves. It could be blitz courts or particular specialist courts.’ She points to Preston, Nottingham and Teesside, where delays have reduced. ‘Take these models and roll them out nationally.’

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC spoke to Joshua Rozenberg on the Lawyer Writes podcast this week about what's next for the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

Report stage is the next stage, when the bill - which includes the proposal to limit jury trials - will have a thorough debate.

As Kirsty explained, this is an important stage as even though the government has a majority, there are a number of rebel MPs who are against reducing jury trials.

We will continue to put forward our evidence based arguments on behalf of the profession that we know will go to the heart of the problem and reduce the inefficiencies in the courts.

Listen now (subscription required)⤵️
https://t.co/bvlTg6gaTT

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

This week our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC and MP Charlotte Nichols went to Snaresbrook Crown Court to talk to barristers and discuss the issues affecting the criminal justice system.

One thing is for sure, it's not jury trials. They asked barristers to put their hand up if they supported the government's proposal to limit jury trials. None did.

Monidipa Fouzder from Law Gazette spoke to the pair about the visit ➡️ https://t.co/ofvNmfiq0y

#JusticeNeedsJuries

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

We're calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer on the anniversary of its launch.

The UK was one of 17 countries that signed the convention last year and 29 states have now endorsed the instrument.

Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC said: "The safety of lawyers is essential to the rule of law and a functioning liberal democracy. The UK was an early signatory of the Luxembourg Treaty, but its commitment to the protection of lawyers will be measured at the point of ratification.

"I urge the UK to lead the way in ratification and so show concrete support for European colleagues who work in jurisdictions where they face risk and danger."

➡️ https://t.co/hUcoC0CDFJ

[The Bar Council @thebarcouncil]

In response to today's King's speech, Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC has emphasised our opposition to restricting jury trials, called for more investment for the justice system and welcomed plans to reset UK-EU relations.

In our immediate reaction, Kirsty has highlighted the Courts and Tribunals Bill, Immigration and Asylum Bill, and the European Partnership Bill ➡️ https://t.co/KrMUBA9IWi