David Lammy the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, is reforming the justice system.

David Lammy is set to unveil major changes to the justice system in the Commons today, following earlier reports that all jury trials could be scrapped.

Juries have been a key part of English law dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215, which stated no free person shall be arrested or imprisoned “except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the laws of the land”.

However, the deputy prime minister will announce that in some less-serious cases, a judge will decide on someone’s guilt or innocence rather than a jury.

While Lammy will unpack the full details later in the Commons on Tuesday, here’s what we know so far.

What’s wrong with our justice system?

Labour has spent much of its first 18 months in office attacking the mess the Tories left within the UK’s justice system – first tearing into the crisis around the overflowing prisons, and now criticising the backlog of court cases.

There are almost 80,000 outstanding Crown Court cases right now, projected to reach 100,000 without urgent action.

Lammy has warned there could be a “courts emergency” driven by the soaring backlogs, falling public confidence and serious cases slowing down.

Labour claims the Tories oversaw a 206% increase in Crown Court cases outstanding for a year or more between 2016 to 2024, rising from 4,759 to 14,549.

Waiting times for rape, murder and GBH trials increased by at least 12 weeks, while murder trial delays increased by 350%, with 36 trials delayed in 2023.

Rape cases took more than four months longer to reach trial in 2014 and GBH cases took nearly a full year longer.

According to Lammy, a rape case reported in December 2025 would not go to trial until 2028.

Is David Lammy scrapping all jury trials?

No – Lammy is........

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