Jury trials

As it happens I was myself chairman of the jury on two occasions about 40 years ago and was deeply impressed by how carefully my fellow jurors took their responsibilities. For that reason alone I would be reluctant to ban jury trials.

But there can be no doubt that the delay in bringing cases to trial is intolerable and some form of compromise is necessary. After all, justice delayed is justice denied.

However HMG is wisely accepting that some trials are so important that they cannot be safely handled without juries. That is about right. No other solution to the logjam is on offer.

It is worth bearing in mind that 40 years ago Clive Ponting was being criminally prosecuted for a breach of the Official Secrets Act (over the sinking of the Belgrano in 1982) which prevented the defence case being fairly presented. And that would have been that save for the jury realising that an absurd result would thereby obtain. Ponting was acquitted.

Written by Simon Cawkwell, November 2025