Finally sense prevails. No new jury trials from today.
The detail is here. Jurors will only be asked to attend court “where specific arrangements to ensure safety have been put in place”.
Most courts are ill-equipped to offer any such arrangements.
Most courts are ill-equipped to offer any such arrangements.
It is a damming indictment of @HMCTSgovuk that the Lord Chief Justice is still having to emphasise that “basic hygiene arrangements” are not in place in the courts.
When the dust has cleared, there will have to be accountability for the way in which this has all been handled.
When the dust has cleared, there will have to be accountability for the way in which this has all been handled.
However, that it has taken until Monday morning for this decision to be taken is unacceptable. Jurors will already be travelling to court, unaware of the announcement. We have been saying this for weeks.
Once again, chaotic thinking and absent planning at the heart of the courts
Once again, chaotic thinking and absent planning at the heart of the courts
The situation concerning trials in the magistrates’ courts - where courtrooms are even more cramped and where even more people congregate in public areas - remain vague and imprecise. What is this supposed to mean? Do trials proceed or not? Should witnesses attend or not?
