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12 May 2023

Scottish government proposes scrapping juries in rape cases

Trial by jury is one of the fundamental building blocks of the British justice system.

But the Scottish government is proposing to scrap juries in rape cases.

They say holding trials in front of a single judge might help improve the country’s conviction rate.

Lawyers across Scotland have voted to boycott the judge-only scheme over fears it will threaten the right to a fair trial.