Ministers could extend judge-only trials for MPs ‘with a stroke of a pen’ By @emilydugan in the Sunday Times page 2 and online @thetimes Explaining the democratic risks, shadow Solicitor General, Dr @KieranMullanUK said “We could see all sorts of offences added, and as far as I’m aware there has never been a power for ministers quite like this before — to bypass the full scrutiny of parliament, the way in which we pass the most important laws, when deciding what comes on and off a list of who gets a jury trial.” “Andrew Thomas KC, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said the trial without-jury clause in the bill was an “anti-democratic measure” that would “create a system of two-tier justice in our crown courts”. He said: “Judge-only trials could be extended to cases of bribery or misconduct in a public office, where politicians and other powerful people are under scrutiny. ‘Complex’ is not defined.” “Ministers could introduce judge-only trials for politically damaging cases without a vote in parliament because of a clause buried in a bill that has been approved by MPs.

The unprecedented law would mean any type of trial in England and Wales deemed complex or lengthy, other than rape or homicide, could be recategorised as judge-only without the need for a new vote.” Page 2 of the Sunday Times and Full article here thetimes.com/article/dac2265…