Speaking at an event in Sheffield today, the new Prime Minister said he wants to “look in detail” at the proposals - but that his instincts are “not to reduce access to jury trial”. Our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC has responded to the news➡️ bit.ly/4wxWRdV @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

Bar Council Chair welcomes indication Andy Burnham may scrap plans to reduce jury trials

The PM said his instincts are "not to reduce access to jury trial"

bit.ly

Writing in @theguardian.com, Chair of the Bar Council @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social explains why we're making the case for the minimum age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales to be increased from 10 to 14. ➡️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The usual erudite and thoughtful questions from @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social Always a pleasure to discuss law (and a little bit of politics) with him. #justiceneedsjuries

Joshua Rozenberg@joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

As presaged in the King’s speech, the government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill was reintroduced in the House of Commons yesterday. Will the government’s plans to limit jury trial ever reach the House of Lords? Listen to my interview with the chair of the bar. rozenberg.substack.com/p/judges-or-...

As a barrister working in criminal justice over 30 years and as a consultant to UNICEF for over 15 years, it was clear that we need to review the minimum age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales. We have concluded that it is too young and recommend that it is increased to 14.

The Bar Council@thebarcouncil.bsky.social · last mo.

Today we're launching a new expert report calling for the age of criminal responsibility in England & Wales to be increased from 10 to 14. We explain how a change to the min. age will lead to better outcomes for children & society. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social 👉 www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/inc...

The usual erudite and thoughtful questions from @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social Always a pleasure to discuss law (and a little bit of politics) with him. #justiceneedsjuries

Joshua Rozenberg@joshuarozenberg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

As presaged in the King’s speech, the government’s Courts and Tribunals Bill was reintroduced in the House of Commons yesterday. Will the government’s plans to limit jury trial ever reach the House of Lords? Listen to my interview with the chair of the bar. rozenberg.substack.com/p/judges-or-...

Last week our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social had a very constructive meeting with Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, covering violence against women & girls (including abuse through harmful practices), rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases, delays pre-court and AI.

As a proud trustee of @wwf.org.uk I add my thanks to #sirdavidattenborough What a life! What a century! Happy Birthday, Sir David.

WWF UK@wwf.org.uk · 3mo ago

To mark #SirDavidAttenborough's 100th birthday, we come together to celebrate a man who has dedicated his life to championing our natural world. 🌍 Thank you, Sir David, from all of us.

Happy 100th birthday, #SirDavidAttenborough. 🎉 Thank you for a lifetime spent helping us see, understand and care for this wonderful world we all call home. 🌍

Chair of the Bar, @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social gives opening remarks at today's Ukraine law day. She explains the importance of our cross-border collaboration 4 years on from the start of the conflict.

On the govt defeating a specialist sexual offences and domestic abuse amendment today. Hopefully it will be brought back at report stage. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/gov...

Government rejects first opportunity to deliver timely justice for victims through setting up rape court instead of reducing jury trials

The government has rejected calls to amend the Courts and Tribunals Bill and bring in specialist rape courts, despite it being a Labour manifesto pledge.

barcouncil.org.uk

This letter and its more than 3,000 signatories demonstrate the unequivocal principled and practical opposition to the restriction of jury trials from not only the Bar, but the legal profession as a whole... #justiceneedsjuries

The Bar Council@thebarcouncil.bsky.social · 5mo ago

More than 300 KCs and 22 retired judges are among the 3,236 legal professionals who have signed our letter calling on the Prime Minister to stop the government's jury trial proposal ahead of a parliamentary debate on new legislation to restrict jury trials today.🧵

This excellent guide demystifies terms/ acronyms. Climate literacy is essential. How else for informed conversations? I am encouraging the Bar - across all jurisdictions- to engage/further engage.Estelle Dehon KC is co-chair of the Bar Council’s Nature and Climate panel. @thebarcouncil.bsky.social #

Estelle Dehon KC@estelledehon.bsky.social · 4mo ago

And here it is! The Cornerstone Climate Guide - Key Concepts and Definitions is live 🌍 🎉 Thank you so much @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and The Bar Council of England and Wales for your support in promoting climate literacy across the Bar and beyond. cornerstonebarristers.com/the-cornerst...

My first post in ages & on Earth Day! I'm celebrating with @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social at the launch of the Climate Guide 🎉 Two ways to join: 🌍 In person @cornerstonebarristers.com from 5pm (we still have spaces, sign up here lnkd.in/eS6YPVsQ) 🌏 Online from 5:20pm (register here lnkd.in/euqhH52w)

Our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social welcomes to Jim Morris CB DSO as our new Chief Executive his first #BarCouncil meeting tonight! www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/bar...

Bar Council announces new Chief Executive to join in March 2026

Jim Morris CB DSO will take over from Malcolm Cree CBE in March 2026

barcouncil.org.uk

Our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social highlights #BarCouncil plans for the upcoming London International Disputes Week - we've got two panel events planned, you can find out more via our website www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...

London International Disputes Week

We’re pleased to announce our plans for this year’s London International Disputes Week (LIDW).

barcouncil.org.uk

Both @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and new #BarCouncil CEO Jim Morris welcome Dame Maria Miller as the Bar Commissioner for Conduct www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...

Commissioner for Conduct

Meet the Bar's Commissioner for Conduct, Dame Maria Miller DBE

barcouncil.org.uk

Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social encourages colleagues to stand for #BarCouncil elections and to get involved!

This aft our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social was kindly hosted by Magdalen Chambers, Exeter. We shared updates on our work from regulation to bullying & harassment to juries. It was great to visit a thriving mixed set to hear what more we can do to engage with barristers on the Western Circuit.

Today our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC will be out on the Western Circuit to speak with barristers and chambers professionals but first on the agenda is a stop at this year's conference of the Association of Law Teachers. Kirsty opened with a keynote address on freedom, law, power and social justice.

Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC opens the #BarCouncil meeting with "record attendance" online and in person, as Sir Brian Leveson is our guest speaker tonight.

Watch our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social explain to MPs why the government needs to focus on what's really causing delays in rape and sexual offence cases. The Bar knows operationally what works - and what doesn't - because barristers are in court every day. #JusticeNeedsJuries

Thanks to all who came to our event on Tuesday to mark the launch of our new report. A special thank you to our panel @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social, Rosemin Najmudin & Barbara Bond. 🔗Read the report on treatment of defendants in London magistrates' courts: www.transformjustice.org.uk/publication/...

Brilliant interview with @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social just now. She confirms that it’s not juries that delay justice, and agrees with me that the jury is the only bit that works. NB: Majority of delay in rape cases is investigation. 👏👏👏 bsky.app/profile/ldw1...

Laurie Dunkin Wedd@ldw1.bsky.social · 5mo ago

It’s not juries holding up the system. Jurymen’s and women’s time is routinely wasted because of other issues - including such basics as buildings not fit for purpose, lawyers criss-crossing the country, etc. Two trials convinced me that the jury is the ONLY bit of the system that actually works.

It's silks day! Huge congratulations to all the barristers and clerks celebrating today. Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC attended the ceremony at Westminster Hall to celebrate with all those being sworn in as King's Counsel by the Lord Chancellor. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social

This was the hardest speech I've ever made, speaking about my own experiences of our justice system in opposition to my own party's proposals on courts. Very grateful for all of the gentle and kind responses, and hope I have given a voice to other survivors who feel as I do without my platform.

Peter Stefanovic@peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Labour MP Charlotte Nichols reveals she was raped as an MP as she opposes the governments jury trial reforms Every Labour MP should listen to her incredibly powerful and brave statement in parliament today

This letter and its more than 3,000 signatories demonstrate the unequivocal principled and practical opposition to the restriction of jury trials from not only the Bar, but the legal profession as a whole... #justiceneedsjuries

The Bar Council@thebarcouncil.bsky.social · 5mo ago

More than 300 KCs and 22 retired judges are among the 3,236 legal professionals who have signed our letter calling on the Prime Minister to stop the government's jury trial proposal ahead of a parliamentary debate on new legislation to restrict jury trials today.🧵

Fantastic first day on our visit to the Northern Circuit hosted by Circuit Leader Samantha Hillas KC and Circuit Junior Isabella Denn-White. In the morning Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC met with HHJ Wood, Designated Civil Judge for Cheshire and Merseyside.

Barristers repeatedly tell us that significant delays are caused by the late delivery of individuals in custody to the court room. If you experience a delay, please tell us about it so we can demonstrate the impact to HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice: https://bit.ly/4lcqkoX

Day 2 on our excellent Northern Circuit visit - today we were in Preston, kindly hosted by Julie Taylor at 15 Winckley Square Chambers. Chair of the Bar @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and Chair of the Young Barristers' Committee Amelia Clegg met with senior judges at Preston Combined Court.

Bar Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC hits out at Labour’s plans to reform jury trials, warning they won’t stop the court backlogs and undermine the safeguards built over hundreds of years. Read more in The Telegraph today www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202... @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social