Justice delays: Naomi Long says jury trials won't be scrapped in NI - and warns her department won’t be 'held hostage' by barristers
Stormont’s justice minister says she will retain jury trials in Northern Ireland, despite speculation they may be scrapped in all but the most serious cases in England and Wales to cut court waiting lists.
Naomi Long has also said she is still looking at the possibility of creating a new ‘public defenders’ office’ as a result of ongoing threats of industrial action by barristers – saying her department can’t be held “hostage”.
Backlogs in the justice system on the mainland has led to increased speculation that justice secretary David Lammy may restrict jury trails to rape, murder and manslaughter cases. He will outline major reforms this week which he says will “put victims front and centre” of the criminal justice system.
In a memo to officials last month, seen by The Times newspaper, Mr Lammy said that juries will pass judgment only on rape, murder, manslaughter and public interest cases, while other lower offences will be heard by a judge.
However, Northern Ireland’s justice minister has ruled out similar changes. She told the BBC’s Nolan Show the province’s “history with judge-only trials and Diplock courts is such that I don't think it would inspire confidence”.
Challenged on how slow the justice system is here, Mrs Long said she is “investing in transformation to speed it up…. But I don't think moving away from jury trials is the answer”.
On threats by barristers to strike over pay, the minister said she is “now looking at alternative ways” that defence can be provided in the courts, perhaps in “a different format”.
“There are a number of options, including a public defender's office, and we will look at all of those issues. I just can't be in a situation... where any part of any profession holds the Department of Justice in some way hostage” she said.
The Alliance leader said that a lot of barristers struggle to get work, and they would instead be able to work in a public defenders’ office “and earn a decent salary”.
In January, criminal law barristers withdrew from legal aid cases in a four week strike, with the Criminal Bar Association saying they were doing more work for “significantly less” pay.