Overview of judge-only trials
Most countries do not use jury trials, but it is rare for them to depend solely on a single judge to deliver both the verdict and sentencing. David Lammy has proposed trials without juries in England and Wales, which would place these jurisdictions among very few taking this approach.
International context
While the use of juries is limited globally, the norm in common law countries includes juries deciding guilt, with judges handling sentencing. Combining both responsibilities in one judge is unusual and would mark England and Wales as exceptions compared to most legal systems worldwide.
"Most countries don't use jury trials, but few rely on a single judge to pass both verdict and sentence."
Implications of Lammy's proposals
Adopting judge-only trials may raise concerns about fairness and accountability by concentrating too much authority in a single individual. The proposals could fundamentally change how criminal justice is administered, potentially making England and Wales a legal outlier.
David Lammy’s plan for judge-only trials risks isolating England and Wales internationally by diverging from common legal practice of separating verdict and sentencing roles.
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