Courts 'will have to sweat their assets' to catch up as new jury trials return

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland today warned that the courts will have to “sweat our assets” better to catch up as new jury trials made a limited return.

In tightly controlled hearings in which social distancing was being applied, the Old Bailey was one of four courts nationwide starting new trials today.

But with capacity limited by the safety measures and only cases involving lone defendants scheduled for today’s restart, Mr Buckland said that reforms to speed up the justice system would be needed.

He suggested that the changes could include the greater use of video technology, and that ministers would be discussing other changes.

“Our courts have adapted well by expanding the use of video technology but there are some things that just have to happen in person, such as jury trials,” the Justice Secretary told the Standard.

“When we have beaten this virus, there will be a recovery phase for the courts and I are currently looking at how we can better sweat our assets to get back up to speed.”