It has run a series of "virtual" mock jury trials to test viability and safety. Nothing, it seems, on the future of jury trials, is entirely off the table.
Whatever mechanisms are found to get the criminal justice system back on its feet, lawyers will be needed to service cases but many fear they will have gone out of business. And things are no better for solicitors' firms. We get a bit back through furlough but still have to pay costs including rent, utility bills, professional indemnity insurance and IT contracts.
He believes most firms have a maximum of three months before they face very serious financial trouble. The legal profession has won limited financial help from government, but is seeking far more significant support. Responding to Lord Burnett's comments on the future of jury trials, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said officials were "working closely with the judiciary and others to resume them as soon as possible". Blue-sky thinking is underway to allow jury trials to restart safely.
Image source, PA Media. So, any reduction would be the first in peacetime. Traditional court rooms, like Old Bailey Court No 1, could be too small for effective social distancing. Virtual juries? Image source, Justice. Justice has conducted mock virtual trials to test their viability. Professional survival? For more, including the role of state law in affording juries to defendants, see The Right to Trial by Jury.
Other countries further restrict the availability of jury trials, and others still have eliminated it. In , a South African judge declared disabled Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide. Pistorius didn't have a jury trial because, well, there are no juries in the South African system. And back in , The Economist featured a story explaining that some countries were expanding trial by jury while others were contracting it. Despite the flaws in the justice system, many criminal defense lawyers in the States would say that U.
That isn't to say, however, that choosing a judge or "bench" trial is always the wrong move. Above all else, though, it's a decision that should be made in consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney. For more, see What is the bench trial process? The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.
The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service.
Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. Grow Your Legal Practice. Meet the Editors. Talk to a Lawyer Start here to find criminal defense lawyers near you.
Practice Area Please select Zip Code. How it Works Briefly tell us about your case Provide your contact information Choose attorneys to contact you. Legal Information. Criminal Law Information. Proof and Defenses in Criminal Cases.
0コメント