JOINT STATEMENT FROM CBA, CLSA and LCCSA

We, the undersigned representative groups of criminal practitioners in England and Wales, are united in our rejection of David Lammy MP’s proposals to curtail the right to jury trial and the automatic right to appeal from the magistrates’ court to the crown court. These are fundamental rights that stand to be stripped from the public. As practitioners in the field, it is our duty to sound the alarm and, with the support of the general public, resist these plans. We call on the other representative organisations which make up the criminal justice sector to join us in our united opposition. The speed with which the government is seeking to advance these reforms requires a swift response. We will soon be calling a day of action to protest the proposals outside the Old Bailey and coordinating our members to take further measures to challenge the reforms.

London Criminal Courts Solicitor’s Association

Criminal Bar Association

and

Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association