Thirty organisations supporting victims of violence against women and girls have called on Justice Secretary David Lammy to scrap proposed restrictions on jury trials. The coalition, which includes the Centre for Women's Justice and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, sent a letter warning that replacing juries with judge-only courts would "increase the potential for individual biases" in case outcomes. The groups expressed particular concern about the impact on women and ethnic minority defendants and victims. They argued that jury trials provide essential safeguards for those "who are subject to discriminatory treatment and are already likely to mistrust the system". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The intervention comes as the legislation faces significant opposition within Labour's own ranks ahead of its final parliamentary stages. The campaign groups highlighted Ministry of Justice figures revealing a stark lack of diversity on the bench. Just 36 per cent of circuit judges presiding over Crown Court cases are female, while merely 10 per cent come from ethnic minority backgrounds. The organisations contrasted this with the broader representation offered by jury panels. "The involvement of 12 randomly selected people brings a wider range of lived experiences, insights, and perspectives into the decision-making process, strengthening the fairness and balance of deliberations," they wrote. The letter emphasised that unanimous jury verdicts ensure collective deliberation rather than decisions resting on a single individual's perspective. The groups also noted that black people, older individuals and women choose Crown Court trials at higher rates than other demographic groups. Under the proposed reforms, defendants charged with offences carrying maximum sentences below three years would lose their automatic right to trial by jury. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Two men charged on suspicion of spying for Tehran after Jews targeted in London Man charged after boy, 8, shot dead on farm during 'rabbit shooting expedition' Nursery worker jailed after making 5,000 indecent images of children Instead, these cases would be determined by magistrates or a single judge sitting without a jury. The legislation has already cleared the House of Commons. However, the measures face substantial resistance from within the governing party itself. Reports suggest as many as 80 Labour MPs oppose the restrictions on jury trials. These backbenchers are reportedly pushing for amendments before the bill reaches its final votes. The scale of internal opposition raises questions about whether the government can secure passage without significant concessions to its own members. The letter referenced Mr Lammy's own 2017 review of the criminal justice system, conducted when he served as an opposition MP. That research demonstrated ethnic minorities faced conviction rates comparable to white defendants in jury trials, including before all-white juries, across various offence categories. "Research shows that this continues to be the case today," the groups stated. However, they warned that judges display different patterns when sentencing, with ethnic minority defendants more likely to receive custodial sentences and longer terms than white British defendants for similar offences. "It is deeply concerning that judge-only trials could see this racial disproportionality translating into conviction decisions," the letter cautioned. A Ministry of Justice spokesman responded: "We wholeheartedly welcome all views as we move forward with these vital reforms." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter