The London Advocate - Issue 109 - Autumn 2026

The criminal justice system is facing a period of significant reform, with jury trial, sentencing powers, court reform, legal aid, prison capacity, digitalisation and artificial intelligence all competing for attention.

In the latest issue of The Advocate, Piers Desser considers whether these apparently separate reforms are ultimately responses to the same underlying problem: a system struggling to reconcile the demands placed upon it with the resources available to meet them.

Among the most significant proposals are those contained in the Courts and Tribunals Bill, including changes to the right to elect Crown Court trial, increased magistrates’ sentencing powers and the introduction of judge-alone trials in certain cases.

While there is an understandable need to address delays and the pressures facing the Crown Court, these proposals also raise fundamental questions about the architecture of criminal justice and the rights available within it.

Piers explores the balance between efficiency and principle, asking how far the pressures on the system should determine the way in which criminal justice is delivered.

At this important moment for the profession, the role of criminal practitioners is more important than ever. The LCCSA has a vital role to play in ensuring that the experience and perspective of those working within the criminal courts are part of the debate about how the system should develop.

Read the full article in the latest issue of The London Advocate - Issue 109 - Autumn 2026