This was the hardest speech I've ever made, speaking about my own experiences of our justice system in opposition to my own party's proposals on courts. Very grateful for all of the gentle and kind responses, and hope I have given a voice to other survivors who feel as I do without my platform.

This letter and its more than 3,000 signatories demonstrate the unequivocal principled and practical opposition to the restriction of jury trials from not only the Bar, but the legal profession as a whole... #justiceneedsjuries

Fantastic first day on our visit to the Northern Circuit hosted by Circuit Leader Samantha Hillas KC and Circuit Junior Isabella Denn-White. In the morning Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC met with HHJ Wood, Designated Civil Judge for Cheshire and Merseyside.

Barristers repeatedly tell us that significant delays are caused by the late delivery of individuals in custody to the court room. If you experience a delay, please tell us about it so we can demonstrate the impact to HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice: https://bit.ly/4lcqkoX

Day 2 on our excellent Northern Circuit visit - today we were in Preston, kindly hosted by Julie Taylor at 15 Winckley Square Chambers. Chair of the Bar @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and Chair of the Young Barristers' Committee Amelia Clegg met with senior judges at Preston Combined Court.

Bar Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC hits out at Labour’s plans to reform jury trials, warning they won’t stop the court backlogs and undermine the safeguards built over hundreds of years. Read more in The Telegraph today www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202... @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

If you are a Head of Chambers please circulate these links to your members and encourage engagement of all levels. @cdkc.bsky.social, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit @thecriminalbar.bsky.social @thebarcouncil.bsky.social @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Legal professionals - you still have time to sign our open letter to the Prime Minister on jury reforms. We’re planning to send the letter to the PM soon - you have until Sunday 1 March to add your signature. Sign your name now: www.barcouncil.org.uk/media-campai... Thank you. #JusticeNeedsJuries

Calling all legal professionals to sign the letter to the Prime Minister.⬇️ In opposition to reducing jury trials. In support of reducing delays and lifting the criminal justice system out of crisis. #justiceneedsjuries

Reducing the 80,000 backlog of cases needs action now - not 2027/2028 as is the necessity of primary legislation to reduce jury trials. Previously I’ve referred to IFG findings:a single Judge trial will save less than 2% of court time (if estimate of a Judge only trial being 20% quicker is correct)

Today Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, met with Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy MP, and Justice Minister Sarah Sackman MP. They discussed the justice system, criminal court reform proposals and the workforce. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social promises an energetic year ahead and welcomes new members to #BarCouncil including new Commissioner for Conduct Dame Maria Miller - read more about Dame Maria and her new role: www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...

Good morning indeed! We are in full flow and our Chair is outlining the full programme of work being done for barristers. Note for diary: 14 November 2026 is Bar Conference! And a heads up from me as Chair of the Law Reform Committee is that our annual lecture will be held on 2 July. More to follow.

Chair KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social welcomes the appointment of Jim Morris CB DSO as the new #BarCouncil Chief Exec who will begin in March, taking over from Malcolm Cree CBE. Read more about Jim here: www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/bar...

In her Chair's update, KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social highlights the busy work at the start of the year meeting government ministers & parliamentarians from all parties to discuss priorities inc juries, age of criminal resp, violence against women, legal aid, intl work & more #BarCouncil

Chair KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social asks everyone to save the date for Bar Conference 2026 - Saturday 14 November. Register your interest to hear when tickets go on sale: www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve... #BarCouncil

KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social visited Brussels recently. A political declaration on the ECHR is due in May through the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH). The Chair is also visiting India in February to promote the Bar of E&W. #BarCouncil

Ahead of the annual authorisation to practise process in Feb/March, Chair KBKC @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social encourages everyone to support the work of the #BarCouncil through the Bar Representation Fee (BRF). Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-re...

Good morning from a drizzly London for our first #BarCouncil meeting of 2026. Chair of the Bar @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social welcomes everyone to the meeting. We’ll be sharing highlights and key points in this 🧵

30 January -MPs went to court.I was delighted to head up the Leeds Crown Court visit. MPs heard from barristers about reasons for delays and how to fix them. Reducing jury trials is not a reason nor a solution. Pictured: Alec Shelbrooke (Con) Anna Dixon (Lab) Fabian Hamilton also attended.

Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC met with Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP at Leeds Combined Court @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Kirsty Brimelow KC also met with MP Anna Dixon MP at Leeds Combined Court @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

The Bar Council of England and Wales extends a hand of support across the Atlantic to colleagues who are being targeted" says Kirsty Brimelow KC, offering support to US lawyers and to mark the Day of the Endangered Lawyer today. Find out more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4qw00I6 @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

In her third week as Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC met with Baroness Smith of Cluny KC, Advocate General for Scotland and with justice minister Jake Richards MP. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Monday morning, the van from HMP Wormwood Scrubs hasn't arrived so the 11am sentence is delayed Lawyers for a defendant accused of rape can't get into the cells to see him, so the 12pm trial will be delayed And lawyers are complaining about how long it took to get into the building this morning

New Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC uses her inaugural speech to call for Single Justice Procedure reform "No doubt the SJP offends fundamental principles of fairness...issuing fines to the most vulnerable people in circumstances where they should not be prosecuted."

Welcome Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar 2026. This evening she is making her inaugural address at Gray's Inn, setting out her priorities for 2026. Highlights from her speech and a full recording will be available later this week. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Grays Inn looking very lovely this evening - all ready for @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social Chair of @thebarcouncil.bsky.social inaugural speech #WomenInLaw #BarCouncil #LegalLeadership

Early start @skynewsrss.bsky.social on the Bar Council’s opposition to reducing jury trials (7.45 am). Also spoke on my priority to stamp out bullying, sexual harassment & harassment at the Bar & implementation of the Harman review on Woman’s Hour (10.30 am). Leaving Millbank & into the rain…

Hello, 2026! Wishing all health, happiness and success. I’m hitting the ground running as the new Chair of @thebarcouncil.bsky.social It is a privilege to serve the Bar. I will do my best.

Sending Christmas wishes to all, whether or not you celebrate. For those struggling- without underestimating difficulties- there will be a time when it gets better. And you’re not alone. Wishing all health and happiness and rest and recuperation.

I love meeting new people across the global profession & discussing my law passions. Thank u Berlin Law Assoc.Excellent chat at our table,from universal jurisdiction to protest law to trial by media.At the 23rd Berlin Conference of European Legal Professions.Top speech by Prof Dr Matthias Jahn.

Whilst we’re on a spooky weekend, this was an enjoyable podcast on difficult but important subject. Let me know thoughts. 🎧 www.buzzsprout.com/1577473/epis...

Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.

In The Hague speaking at The European Circuit 2025 Annual Conference, on Europe-wide migration issues, alongside colleagues from the Netherlands, Italy, and France: Nikki Vreede, Marco Bona, and Lisanne Chamberland-Poulin.

The European Circuit Annual Conference 2025 continues into its second day, with discussion on the International Criminal Court and the fight against impunity for atrocity crimes

A hugely stimulating session on migration policy. As usual I leant so much from fellow panelists!

Brilliant panel on migration. Impressive command of material by all - with a particular shout out to fantastic analysis by @berryadrianc.bsky.social #europeancircuit

Commenting on the new “democratic lock” -why it’s unnecessary, wouldn’t have prevented the earlier sentencing guidelines spat(they were approved by LC reps at the meetings) & risks political overreach into the independent judiciary; maybe not now but in the future. www.thetimes.com/article/bf22...

Discussing the ECHR & the Good Friday Agreement @timesradio (from 4.37). Whether or not the U.K. would breach the GFA if it “denounces” (i.e. leaves) the ECHR, the GFA would require reviewing, with huge risk of break down in trust and destabilisation of the GFA. www.thetimes.com/radio/show/2...

Speaking on the international law framework of war crimes and breach of customary international humanitarian law regarding the starvation of people of Gaza. And speaking on evidence collecting from the medics, including the brilliant Dr. Victoria Rose. #Gaza

I spoke on evidence gathering of starvation in Gaza alongside Dr. Victoria Rose. @channel4news.bsky.social www.channel4.com/news/definit...

🎧Have you listened to our latest podcast episode yet? @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social joins @penelopegibbs.bsky.social & @robroballen.bsky.social to explore the single justice procedure and what it means for the vulnerable people who often fall victim of its impersonal nature. 🔗➡️ pod.fo/e/30221c

I finally met @Number10cat He was having a nap but yawned in my direction. Really. #Larrysuperfan

Terribly sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Courtenay Griffiths KC. He was a brilliant, towering figure at the Bar and a personal support to me. A couple of years ago, I had a try at capturing some of his story in a podcast. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...

Thank you,Institute of Barristers’ Clerks! Great speeches by IBC Chair Dave Scothern & BC Chair Barbara Mills KC. Finally made it to the top table (a big thing coming from clerks!)With CPS Ade Olojo, legendary Colin Cook. & outside beautiful Lincoln’s Inn with Chair of BC Employed Bar,Sara George.