CLWYD EAST MP Becky Gittins has said the criminal justice system is "on the brink of collapse", as she outlined her reasons for supporting the government's controversial jury trial reform bill.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101, in a vote on March 10, which saw only Labour MPs support the bill.
The measures would scrap jury trials in England and Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.
Volunteer community magistrates, who deal with the majority of all criminal cases, will take on more work.
Mrs Gittins, who voted for the bill at its second reading, said the proposed measures would "tackle the unacceptable delays in our courts" having seen "first-hand the state of the courts and tribunals in her previous job".
The move has received backlash from thousands of lawyers across the UK, with jury trials, which Mrs Gittins said remain a "cornerstone" of the legal system, dating back to the Magna Carta of 1215.
The Clwyd East MP said: “After years of inaction under the previous Government, the criminal justice system is on the brink of collapse. Over the last seven years, the Crown Court backlog has more than doubled to nearly 80,000 cases and trials are taking twice as long as they did 25 years ago.
“Before becoming an MP, I saw first-hand the state of the courts and tribunals in my previous job. Justice delayed can so often mean justice denied. Since being elected, I have also heard directly from constituents about the toll long waits for court hearings can take on their wellbeing and mental health.
“It is vital that people receive the outcomes of legal proceedings as quickly as possible, which is why I support the Government's steps to tackle the unacceptable delays in our courts.
“The Courts and Tribunals Bill is part of a wider package of measures to reform the system, including nearly £2.8 billion of investment and extensive modernisation to make the system more efficient.
“Jury trials remain the cornerstone of our legal system and will continue for the most serious crimes. Only three per cent of criminal trials currently go before a jury, with over ninety per cent already heard by magistrates and district judges.
“This Bill changes the threshold of what goes to a jury because of the scale of the challenge we face. Previous Governments have also amended the threshold.
“I am pleased that the Justice Secretary has committed the Government to conducting a full independent review of how the reforms will affect particular groups and to ensure justice is being delivered.”
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