Write to your MP: the right to trial by jury
Dear Members,
We are writing to update you on the work currently underway to defend one of the most fundamental safeguards in our justice system: the right to trial by jury.
In recent weeks, we have been working closely with the Bar Council and Circuit Leaders in response to proposals to remove the central role of juries in serious criminal cases. There is agreement across the profession that the jury system must be protected.
It is vital that Parliament hears directly from those who work within the criminal courts and understands the consequences of any dilution of this right.
We have previously asked you to write a personal letter to your MP. Many of you already have- thank you. We are now asking that every member write again to their local MP to highlight the importance of retaining full and robust jury trials, and to urge them to oppose any measures that threaten this cornerstone of our justice system. Personal correspondence from constituents is one of the most effective ways to ensure that MPs understand the depth of professional concern.
To support you in this, we have attached:
- a model letter for you to use or adapt when contacting your MP; and
- a briefing pack outlining the current issues, the constitutional significance of jury trials, and the collective position we are advancing with the Bar Council and Circuit Leaders.
When writing to your MP, we also ask that you CC the Bar Council at [email protected] and our own [email protected]. Doing so enables the Bar Council and the CBA to monitor the scale and spread of engagement across constituencies, identify which MPs have been contacted, and coordinate further parliamentary follow-up. This tracking is an essential part of our joint effort to demonstrate the depth of concern across the profession and to ensure that the defence of jury trials is raised effectively at every level of Parliament.
Your continued commitment to defending the integrity of the Criminal Justice System is deeply appreciated.
We are strongest when we act together, and your engagement now is crucial to ensuring that the right to be tried by a jury of one’s peers is preserved.
With thanks and solidarity,
The Officers of the Criminal Bar Association
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