Has coronavirus changed the UK justice system forever?

The coronavirus has already led to significant changes to justice, some of the impacts are set to be long-lasting or permanent: Four new crown court juries were sworn in on Monday at the Old Bailey, in Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff. Spread out for social distancing, with staff and lawyers in adjoining courtrooms connected by video, the hearings have reassured participants. ____________________________________________________  More on coronavirus: ____________________________________________________ Geoffrey Robertson QC has proposed adopting the system in some Australian states where a defendant can opt for a judge-only trial. The problems are in the family, county and magistrates courts where courtrooms are more cramped, claimants or defendants often unrepresented and remote working is disliked by the public. Law centres have been given emergency funds by the MoJ but professional legal bodies fear many barristers and solicitors will be bankrupt unless further financial help is provided or cases restarted. Rosaleen Kilbaneof the Community Law Partnership in Birmingham, which specialises in legal aid housing cases, said: “Our costs are fixed. It could be the vast, prestige City law offices and gleaming modern commercial courts that become longterm victims of the coronavirus. A HMCTS spokesperson said: “A huge amount of work has gone into increasing the use of video and audio technology to keep courts running during this unprecedented crisis.

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