Respect   Respect is an essential value.   In an adversarial system that is under considerable pressure, it will be respect and courtesy that bind us together, particularly in this critical time.

“It is not the jury’s fault that the system is in such a mess.” “Why Juries Matter” Francis FitzGibbon KC examines the evidence in @LondonReview for the recommendations in Sir Brian Leveson’s Government-commissioned Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

“We would also like to express our sincere thanks to Baroness Helen Newlove for her service over her two terms as Victim's Commissioner. No-one has done more than Helen to ensure that the victims of crime are recognised as being at the heart of the work of the Criminal Justice System.”

Congratulations to Claire on the appointment. We are grateful for the impressive work Claire has undertaken during her time as London’s first Independent Victims’ Commissioner.  Riel Karmy-Jones KC, CBA Chair of and Andrew Thomas KC, CBA Vice Chair. www.gov.uk/government/n....

As the new legal year beckons, we are delighted to welcome Riel Karmy-Jones KC as our new Chair and Andrew Thomas KC as our new Vice-Chair. Riel and Andrew will continue to work with the Executive and our Officers, James Gray, Chloë Ashley and Matilda Robinson-Murphy.

#CriminalJusticeMatters Our CBA #podcast The Leveson Review of The Criminal Courts Daniel Oscroft, who practices from No5 Chambers, discusses the existing inefficiencies in the criminal courts system with Simon Spence KC and Kate Bex KC of Red Lion Chambers www.criminalbar.com/resources/po...

Justice in Numbers In 2024 the Criminal Bar, working with the Judiciary, Court Staff, Solicitors, the CPS and all agencies disposed of 113,885 cases in the Crown Court. A high level of cases (18,790) were committed for sentence to the Crown Court. Chair Mary Prior KC, Message

Lord chancellor Shabana Mahmood faces overwhelming opposition from criminal barristers if she pursues proposals to curb jury trials, the findings of a snap survey commissioned by the Criminal Bar Association suggests. www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/crimina...

More than 90 per cent of barristers oppose controversial plan to axe jury trials Barristers were polled on Sir Brian Leveson’s proposals to scrap jury trials www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b...

The Criminal Bar Association’s survey of Criminal Barristers’ views of the Leveson Review of the Criminal Courts, a Government commissioned review. 2029 criminal barristers responded in 7 days The survey was open from 16 to 23 July 2025 The Leveson Review published 9 July 2025

“We should think very carefully before removing the right to trial by jury. Once it is removed, it will not return. Pragmatism is essential, but fundamental principles must not yield to expediency. We must eliminate the delay but not at the expensive of fairness” CBA treasurer James Gray

We cannot applaud the removal of what the public sees as a basic human right. The public takes part in the criminal justice system, deciding the guilt or otherwise of its fellow citizens. This is a significant protection, ensuring that laws remain fair and justice remains open to all. Mary Prior KC

Snap! Criminal Barristers please take 10 minutes out of the next 90 minutes to complete the CBA survey on the Leveson Review. At 10am today the survey closes. Every voice counts. Thank you for the time and insights you give as you prepare cases for court.

24 hours to go Your Criminal Bar Needs You! Criminal barristers please complete the CBA snap survey on the Leveson Review. The deadline for responses is tomorrow morning 10am Wednesday 23 July. Please encourage colleagues across Circuits - every voice counts. Thank you.

Chair We urge the Government to work with us, using the efficiency recommendations that we have provided to fix the broken system rather than focussing on reinventing it. That way we can reduce the trauma for at least some of those whose lives are on hold whilst they wait for years for their trial.

Sunday is survey day 3 days to go Criminal barristers please complete the CBA snap survey on the Leveson Review. The deadline for responses is 10am Wednesday 23 July. OneBarNone. Stronger together. Your voice, our criminal bar. Thank you. We are grateful for your time.

Calling Criminal Barristers. The Leveson Review. 5 days to go to complete the CBA snap survey on the Leveson Review. The deadline for responses is 10am Wednesday 23 July. Your voice matters for our collective say. Thank you. We are grateful for your time.

In The Brief today: @londonlegal.bsky.social support trust Walking into record books; @Law_Commission looks at chancel repair liability. Sign up for the latest #legal news, comment & gossip: home.thetimes.com/newsletters

The Leveson Review Have you completed the survey? Calling all Criminal Barristers. We need your say so we can have a greater collective voice. The deadline for responses is 10am Wednesday 23 July. We are grateful for your time.

We cannot applaud the removal of what the public sees as a basic human right. The public takes part in the criminal justice system, deciding the guilt or otherwise of its fellow citizens. This is a significant protection, ensuring that laws remain fair and justice remains open to all. Mary Prior KC

The Leveson Review Criminal barristers Please complete the CBA snap survey on the Leveson Review. The deadline for responses is 10am Wednesday 23 July. Thank you. We are grateful for your time.

Listen to this episode of Tonight with Andrew Marr on Global Player CBA Chair Mary Prior KC is in discussion with @lbc.co.uk Andrew Marr, explaining proposals set out in the Government commissioned Review of the Criminal Courts by Sir Brian Leveson. Why #juries matter The right to jury trial.

“We should think very carefully before removing the right to trial by jury. Once it is removed, it will not return. Pragmatism is essential, but fundamental principles must not yield to expediency. We must eliminate the delay but not at the expensive of fairness” CBA treasurer James Gray

Former CBA Chair Francis FitzGibbon KC discussed on @LBCNews the space needed in and out of prison for rehabilitation, the “revolving door” impact of short prison sentences and how cuts to court capacity increase backlogs and delay, causing remand to rise 45m24s- www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbcn...

“There is no alternative but to make change” Mary Prior KC, CBA Chair, reviews the Independent Sentencing Review, as reported in today’s @Independent. “Ending short sentences was welcomed by the Criminal Bar Association “because they don’t work”. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Independent Sentencing Review. “Plainly, significant investment will be necessary to implement change and that investment must include ensuring that the criminal barristers who prosecute and defend the trials and sentence hearings remain.” Mary Prior KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association.

Court system in crisis as ‘jaw-dropping’ delays see first trials listed for 2029 “It cannot be right for victims of crime, eyewitnesses and those accused of crimes to have to wait until 2029 for their trial to take place” Mary Prior KC, Chair of the CBA. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Criminal Barristers are key workers. Without us, the Criminal Justice System would collapse. We are paid by the Government to undertake a public service.

The 4 requests in our submission to @hmtreasury: an independent review body or the ability of the CLAAB to make remuneration recommendations; ring-fencing of the outstanding monies promised during the deal; an increase of 15% in all fees; Chair Mary Prior KC, Message.

Thank you to all who gave their time, preparing, setting-up, presenting, listening, learning and sharing. #1BarNone Another excellent Spring Conference

BSB Chair Kathryn Stone reflects on the recent @thecriminalbar.bsky.social survey findings revealing the stress and pressure the criminal Bar is under. KS says "without the criminal Bar, there is no criminal justice system" and thanks criminal barristers for their work. #BarCouncil

Grade 4 RASSO is the highest rank of panel members. Here, the very junior barrister, who frankly not long ago would have been unlikely to make panel membership, is not now doing the case. 3/

🧵 From a barrister “I’m due to start a rape trial next week. The P should have instructe a Grade 4 RASSO from the outset. Instead they instructed someone recently put on the panel of some 4/6 years call. Now a silk is instructed! And it’s to be moved for his availability!” 1/

30% of those who prosecute rape and serious sexual offences offences will not carry on dealing with these cases and will not reapply to join the RASSO panel according to our CBA National Survey.

Results of the @thecriminalbar.bsky.social survey show that 1 in 3 criminal barristers are eyeing the exit 👀

Thank you @ldnvictimscomm.bsky.social www.criminalbar.com/resources/po...

CBA National Survey Criminal Barristers must be retained within the profession. What might make them stay? 96.8% want there to be an independent national pay review body, to set annual increases in fees, which happens for others in publicly funded law including the judiciary.

CBA National Survey 2025 demonstrates morale of the Criminal Bar 1 in 3 criminal Barristers are actively considering leaving the Bar 1 in 3 at the Criminal Bar is actively considering diversifying their practice into a different field of law We will be left with less than half of our practitioners

Should convicted offenders be forced to attend the sentencing hearing? #CriminalJusticeMatters #podcast Our thanks go to Claire Waxman OBE @ldnvictimscomm.bsky.social who discusses the issues with the CBA’s Kate Bex KC @k80bex.bsky.social and Simon Spence KC. www.criminalbar.com/resources/po...

Earlier this week I joined @simonkc.bsky.social and @k80bex.bsky.social for the @thecriminalbar.bsky.social Criminal Justice Matters podcast. We discuss if offenders should be compelled to attend sentencing hearings and face the families, or face consequences open.spotify.com/episode/10Ey...

It was a real privilege to record this podcast with Claire! Do listen and share!

Letter from the DPP, Stephen Parkinson, to the Criminal Bar “We rely heavily on you, and we always will” Message of Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the @CPSUK to criminal barristers in today’s Monday Message. DPP's full letter is here www.criminalbar.com/resources/ne...

It is Monday and the survey closes tonight. You may be tired from working on the weekend, preparing for today’s trial. But today if you can spend 10 minutes to complete the survey, we may have those extra pieces of evidence to make sure you are properly valued for all the work you do, every day.

It is Sunday. You may be working all day today, preparing a trial or multiple hearings for tomorrow, or this may be the one day you take off. But please take 10 minutes to complete the survey, so that we can make sure that you are properly paid and properly valued, for all the work that you do.

Another push to everyone that needs to complete the @thecriminalbar.bsky.social survey. It will take about 15 minutes but is absolutely vital moving forward. Please do fill it in if you haven’t already done so. And if you have, thank you so much!

Every single one of your voices count Whether you have just obtained tenancy, just been made silk 3 years or 30 years call Your evidence matters on what work you do in and out of our criminal courts, for how long and how much more Please complete the National Survey. Thank you

Please complete the National Survey Has your circuit shared the links? Do you prosecute or defend criminal cases of Robbery Drugs Sexual Violence Fraud Human trafficking Public disorder Criminal Damage All of the above? Your @TheCriminalBar needs you! With grateful thanks.

The Survey It is impossible to ignore the truth if we Criminal Barristers across England & Wales have spoken We represent your views and therefore it is essential for us to understand the concerns and worries of the Criminal Bar across the entire country Please take 10 minutes of your time this week

100 available Crown Court rooms are shut. 100 days of hearings can not happen because the funding was held back The backlog measured by CPS of defendants charged waiting for trial was 85,000 in September Before the latest cap on sitting days and cuts to recorder budgets took effect.

Criminal Practitioners of the SEC - @thecriminalbar.bsky.social need you! Complete their latest survey to provide the data that will form the foundation of their ongoing discussions with the government on funding, sustainability, and the future of the profession. Survey: lnkd.in/eCZyuDeN