Clause 41 — Application by Defendant for Trial to be conducted without Jury

Part of Criminal Justice Bill – in the House of Commons at 3:45 pm on 18 November 2003.

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Photo of Simon Hughes Simon Hughes Liberal Democrat, North Southwark and Bermondsey 3:45, 18 November 2003

Of course not, which is why I have never taken the view that the Home Secretary appears sometimes to have taken, which is that the judges should not be allowed to get on with their job and be properly independent. I have always taken the view that they should be allowed to do that. The great thing about juries is that they are far less predictable and manageable because they are far more independent. They are 12 people who have come together to form a collective view. That is bound to be more persuasive than any other method of deciding right and wrong, and guilt and innocence.