David Lammy leaves 10 Downing Street earlier this month. A former judge has condemned David Lammy’s plans to scrap most jury trials. Christopher Kinch KC, who was resident judge at Woolwich Crown Court in London from 2013 and 2024, accused the justice secretary of “cynically” ignoring other ways of clearing the backlog of cases in the system. He also said removing the right to a jury trial for a large number of offences risked “undermining” public trust in the criminal process. Under the reforms, jury trials would be scrapped for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years. Those cases will be heard by a lone judge in a newly-created Crown Court Bench Division. The most serious offences such as murder and rape will continue to be dealt with by juries. Lammy said the changes, which are backed by Keir Starmer , would help to clear the huge backlog of cases in the courts and deliver swifter justice for victims. But writing for HuffPost UK, Christopher Kinch rejected the government’s claims. He said: “For me, the government argument falls short on both evidence and analysis. It also cynically ignores practical answers that would no much more to restore trust and prevent collapse. “Public trust lies at the heart of the government’s argument, yet juries remain one of the most trusted elements of the criminal justice system at a time when confidence in public institutions is in short supply. “Removing the responsibility for deciding verdicts from juries in a large category of cases risks undermining that trust.” Kinch also rejected Lammy’s claims that only minor criminal offences would be affected by the changes. “Despite ministerial rhetoric, the reforms would not be confined to minor offending but would extend to burglary, most offences of assault occasion in actual bodily harm, and even cases involving death or serious injury caused by careless driving,” he said. “Transferring these decisions to judges may be described as ‘bold’ but it is unlikely to strengthen confidence in the system.” The former judge said that instead of getting rid of jury trials, the government should support judges, court staff and advocates so they can bring down backlogs on their own. His intervention came as Lammy faces a mounting Labour rebellion to his plans. Nearly 40 MPs have put their names to a letter to the prime minister urging him to think again. Karl Turner, the Labour MP for East Hull, told HuffPost UK: “ It’s unpopular, it’s unworkable and it’s unjust. Why is an unpopular government doing an unpopular thing that we don’t need to do? This is madness.” Related... David Lammy Must Re-Think Plans To Remove 'Long-Held Rights' To Jury Trials, Says Former Judge 'Lammy Must Ditch Plan To Scrap Jury Trials Or Face Embarrassing Defeat', Warns Senior Labour MP Exclusive: Labour Rebels Believe They Can Defeat Starmer's Plan To Scrap Jury Trials