00:00First, I will create new swift courts within the Crown Court with a judge alone deciding
00:06verdicts in tribal either way cases with a likely sentence of three years or less, as
00:13Sir Brian recommends. Sir Brian estimates that they will deliver justice at least 20%
00:20faster than jury trials. And whilst jury deliberations remain confidential, judges provide reasoning
00:27for their verdicts in open court. So this will hardwire transparency into our new approach.
00:34Sir Brian also proposes restricting defendants' right to elect for jury trials, a practice not
00:41found widely in other common law jurisdictions. And let's be honest, it's a peculiar way to run
00:47a public service. Our world-leading judges should hear the most serious cases, and I agree that
00:53they and the magistrate should decide where a case is heard. This will prevent defendants
00:58from gaming the system, choosing whichever court they think gives the best chance of success
01:03and drawing out the process, hoping victims give up. And I will limit appeals from the magistrate's
01:09court so that they are only allowed on points of law to prevent justice being delayed further.
01:16Alongside these changes, we will increase magistrate's court sentencing powers to 18 months, so they
01:22can take a greater proportion of lower-level offending and relieve pressure on the Crown Court.
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