The Justice Secretary claims that the “action” taken by his government in regards to the justice system during the pandemic “has been globally recognised”.

Let’s take a quick look at what this globally-recognised action amounts to.

[THREAD]

JURY TRIALS:

Waiting too long to close trial courts, exposing staff, lawyers and jurors to needless risk

Lying about the case backlog - which was caused by govt cuts - claiming it was caused by Covid

Threatening to remove the right to jury trial to deal with said backlog

THE COURTS:

Failing to introduce a uniform approach by courts to video hearings - multiple different platforms, protocols and rules, varying from court to court. Chaos.

Continuing to run filthy, unsafe magistrates’ court buildings without social distancing

THE BACKLOG:

When it was immediately obvious that hundreds more buildings were needed to hold trials, dithering and identifying only TEN “Nightingale” court venues in 3 months. Some of these being among the 295 courts that the government only recently sold off, against advice.

THE LEGAL PROFESSION:

Threatening to force legal professionals to work evenings and weekends for free to clear the backlog caused by government cuts

Withholding financial support from the legal profession, precipitating the collapse of the criminal Bar

PRISONS:

Locking down prisoners 23-hours a day due to Covid, while prioritising populist policies to increase prison sentences and the prison population

Failing to make provision for prisoners to speak to their lawyers, causing delays of *months* for video conferences

I don’t doubt that this record may globally recognised. But I suspect it’s not for the reasons that the Justice Secretary would wish.