> It is regrettable that it has come to this.
>
> But the government’s continued defunding of the criminal justice system, and refusal to engage with those whose goodwill keeps the courts running, has left us with no choice.
>
> Criminal barristers are walking out.
>
> ✊
>
> — The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) [Jun 20, 2022 · 9:51 AM](https://nitter.net/BarristerSecret/status/1538806817395974145#m)
–
A small part of this, from yesterday’s Observer:
>More than 5,800 victims of violent crime and sexual offences are stuck in one of the worst-ever backlogs in the crown courts, enduring delays of at least a year before their cases are heard, the Observer can reveal.
>
>The number of cases facing these delays once a defendant has been charged has increased more than sevenfold in two years, according to an analysis of crown court figures in England and Wales.
>
>Hundreds of lawyers have quit publicly funded criminal work, complaining legal aid fees are a “pittance”.
>
>The backlogs in the crown courts may now worsen as criminal barristers are balloted on possible strike action later this month, which could include refusing new instructions and court walkouts.
>
>The Observer has found:
>
> * court figures reveal that 5,849 cases involving violent crime and sexual offences have been waiting for more than a year to get to trial, compared with just 755 two years previously. More than 1,000 victims have been waiting at least two years.
>
> * Some of the courtrooms at Snaresbrook in east London, the biggest crown court complex in England and Wales, were empty last week despite a backlog of 4,200 cases as it struggles with a shortage of judges.
>
> * Victim support groups warn that some witnesses who are told their cases are postponed because of delays “just don’t bother coming back”.
>
>…
>
>([*Observer: Thousands of victims of violent and sexual crime stuck in England and Wales court backlog*](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/jun/18/thousands-victims-violent-sexual-crime-stuck-england-wales-courts-backlog))
No problem. We can just get a load of agency barristers in to cover.
Rail strikes, Barrister strikes. I wonder who’ll be the next public sector workers to strike?
Good! The Tories have destroyed the legal system with cuts and underfunding just like everything else.
Strikes are an unfortunate but necessary tool, the people who can stop them are the businesses and governments that choose to ignore the workers. It is not the fault of workers or unions.
“Sack them all and automate them”.
“Get paid more than nurses and doctors”.
“Terrorists”.
Holding the country to ransom”
Or are those just held back for working class people?
Tory propaganda has already started in the Daily Heil. “Barristers on 89k vote to strike”. No mention if the thousands of junior solicitors who do a lot of the grunt work who are on less than minimum wage with all the hours they do
Literally eating popcorn whilst reading about the slow, willingly voted for implosion of the UK.
“Stupid lefty lawyers taking our money to try and get murderers and nonces off.”
This Government is so shit on all levels. Worst government that we’ve had that I can remember.
Remember your MPs earn in excess of £80k plus expenses in 6 figures and that’s just their first job. Why people just accept this is beyond me
Control the coinage and the courts and let the rabble have the rest. Padashar emperor shaddam 4th. DUNE, Frank Herbert.
11 comments
> It is regrettable that it has come to this.
>
> But the government’s continued defunding of the criminal justice system, and refusal to engage with those whose goodwill keeps the courts running, has left us with no choice.
>
> Criminal barristers are walking out.
>
> ✊
>
> — The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) [Jun 20, 2022 · 9:51 AM](https://nitter.net/BarristerSecret/status/1538806817395974145#m)
–
A small part of this, from yesterday’s Observer:
>More than 5,800 victims of violent crime and sexual offences are stuck in one of the worst-ever backlogs in the crown courts, enduring delays of at least a year before their cases are heard, the Observer can reveal.
>
>The number of cases facing these delays once a defendant has been charged has increased more than sevenfold in two years, according to an analysis of crown court figures in England and Wales.
>
>Hundreds of lawyers have quit publicly funded criminal work, complaining legal aid fees are a “pittance”.
>
>The backlogs in the crown courts may now worsen as criminal barristers are balloted on possible strike action later this month, which could include refusing new instructions and court walkouts.
>
>The Observer has found:
>
> * court figures reveal that 5,849 cases involving violent crime and sexual offences have been waiting for more than a year to get to trial, compared with just 755 two years previously. More than 1,000 victims have been waiting at least two years.
>
> * Some of the courtrooms at Snaresbrook in east London, the biggest crown court complex in England and Wales, were empty last week despite a backlog of 4,200 cases as it struggles with a shortage of judges.
>
> * Victim support groups warn that some witnesses who are told their cases are postponed because of delays “just don’t bother coming back”.
>
>…
>
>([*Observer: Thousands of victims of violent and sexual crime stuck in England and Wales court backlog*](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/jun/18/thousands-victims-violent-sexual-crime-stuck-england-wales-courts-backlog))
No problem. We can just get a load of agency barristers in to cover.
Rail strikes, Barrister strikes. I wonder who’ll be the next public sector workers to strike?
Good! The Tories have destroyed the legal system with cuts and underfunding just like everything else.
Strikes are an unfortunate but necessary tool, the people who can stop them are the businesses and governments that choose to ignore the workers. It is not the fault of workers or unions.
“Sack them all and automate them”.
“Get paid more than nurses and doctors”.
“Terrorists”.
Holding the country to ransom”
Or are those just held back for working class people?
Tory propaganda has already started in the Daily Heil. “Barristers on 89k vote to strike”. No mention if the thousands of junior solicitors who do a lot of the grunt work who are on less than minimum wage with all the hours they do
Literally eating popcorn whilst reading about the slow, willingly voted for implosion of the UK.
“Stupid lefty lawyers taking our money to try and get murderers and nonces off.”
This Government is so shit on all levels. Worst government that we’ve had that I can remember.
Remember your MPs earn in excess of £80k plus expenses in 6 figures and that’s just their first job. Why people just accept this is beyond me
Control the coinage and the courts and let the rabble have the rest. Padashar emperor shaddam 4th. DUNE, Frank Herbert.