Fiona Rutherford

@fionarutherford.bsky.social

Chief Executive of JUSTICE, the UK’s law reform and human rights charity.

“From the Post Office scandal to Andrew Malkinson, we've seen how the justice system can fail innocent people. Cutting juries could make that more likely.” – Maxine Peake Maxine explains why jury trials matter for public trust, fair outcomes & judicial independence. @andyburnham.bsky.social (1/2)

Next week on the podcast, Baroness Helena Kennedy, our President, reflects on a career fighting for women’s rights. In 2021, she arranged the evacuation of 100+ female judges & their families from Afghanistan – only for the Home Office to turn most away. 🎧📺Subscribe: linktr.ee/JUSTICEuk

JUSTICE is looking for an AI Policy Advisor to join our friendly, outcome-focused team. 📍 London (hybrid) ⏰ Full-time, 9-month FTC (maternity cover) 💷 £44,650 per year 🗓️ Applications reviewed on a rolling basis Learn more and apply: justice.org.uk/job-opportun...

AI Policy Advisor (Maternity Cover) | JUSTICE | UK Legal Reform Charity

JUSTICE is looking to recruit a new Director of Development to join our friendly, outcome-focused, values-led team. This is a permanent role and provides an exciting opportunity for someone who is an ...

justice.org.uk

In the final episode of the series, our President, Baroness Helena Kennedy, discusses defending the Human Rights Act (HRA) from political attacks. The HRA has strengthened protections for vulnerable groups across society, she says, from children to the elderly. 📺🎧Watch/listen: linktr.ee/JUSTICEuk

Our Chief Executive, Fiona Rutherford, warned MPs that restricting jury trials could mean more defendants cross-examining victims in court. Thousands more cases will be heard in magistrates’ courts, where free legal support is harder to access - forcing defendants to act as their own lawyers.

Excited to share JUSTICE’s new podcast, Law for Lawmakers! It’s been fascinating interviewing leading voices on the links between law, politics, and democracy for this series, which builds on our 2024 Law for Lawmakers guide. You can listen to Ep.1 with Dominic Grieve now 👇

JUSTICE@justicehq.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🎙️ Are MPs giving away too much power? In our new podcast, Dominic Grieve KC explains how “statutory instruments” let Government change laws without a vote, and why this matters. 🎧 Listen & subscribe: www.justice.org.uk/news/parliam... (1/2)

JUSTICE joined over 30 charities supporting victims of violence against women and girls to call on the government to drop plans to restrict juries. Survivors need a justice system they can trust - sidelining juries puts that at risk. www.theguardian.com/law/2026/mar...

Cutting jury trials risks ‘undermining justice’ for abused women and girls, Lammy warned

In letter to justice secretary, groups say judge-led decisions more likely to be influenced by bias than those made by 12 random people

theguardian.com

Pleased that Ken and Tim are continuing to shed light on what curtailing juries will do to our criminal justice system. What this proposal will not do, is deal with the backlog. Help @justicehq.bsky.social retain juries here: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-our-jur….

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JUSTICE@justicehq.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Our Chief Executive @fionarutherford.bsky.social therford.bsky.social joins Double Jeopardy to talk about why the Courts & Tribunals Bill is a missed opportunity to improve criminal justice, issues with the magistrates’ courts taking on this new burden, & more. Tune in: link.podtrac.com/zo621bf6

We are 77% towards our target - please donate today (link below) and your gift will be DOUBLED! You donate £10, JUSTICE receives £20. You donate £100, JUSTICE receives £200. You get the picture.

JUSTICE@justicehq.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Amid threats to jury trials, support for our @biggive.bsky.social campaign has been incredible. We’ve hit £20k of £35k in 3 days. Cutting juries won’t fix delays, but your support helps us push for a fairer justice system. All gifts doubled until 9 Dec: bit.ly/3MnPIun

Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of JUSTICE, spoke to BBC Woman's Hour this week to explain how the reduction of jury trials reduces the crucial component of diversity within our legal system. (1)

JUSTICE and 40+ other experts today urge the govt to remove the power to imprison people for their own protection while they await trial. Prisons are not places of care, and this practice worsens issues such as homeless, addiction & mental health crises. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Lammy urged to end ‘scandal’ of people imprisoned for own protection

Exclusive: Removing courts’ power would help vulnerable adults and children and ‘free up jail spaces’, experts say, in wake of recent manhunts to find missing prisoners released by mistake

independent.co.uk

💡 New report proposes 1st rights-based framework to guide AI use in the justice system, to help harness AI’s power safely. AI isn’t a cure-all & its use carries big risks – to individuals & to democracy if people lose trust in the law through more scandals like Horizon (1/4)

📢Donate to JUSTICE today and every penny will be doubled📢 To celebrate the launch of our new Strategy, a generous donor has pledged £10,000 of matched funding to support our work. Donate here today, to instantly double your contributions: bit.ly/3Zuqq2s

Fundraising Matching Campaign for JUSTICE - JUSTICE

Will you make a gift to JUSTICE and help us achieve our vision for a fair, accessible and efficient legal process, in which people’s rights are protected? We are now running a fundraising campaign whe...

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“When the legal and political sectors function in harmony and MPs have the right tools to do their job well, it results in better laws for all.” Read JUSTICE's Tyrone Steele in @law360.bsky.social , exploring the challenges facing the UK's rule of law: bit.ly/4eV3yhi

UK Election Offers New Opportunity To Promote Rule Of Law - Law360

With many members of Parliament entering the House of Commons for the first time following the election in July, it is a daunting time for those transitioning into elected legislators, and the input o...

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