Government Delays on Specialist Rape Courts Prompt Concern Over Lawyer Shortage and Case Backlog

Plans to establish numerous specialized rape courts in England and Wales have been suspended, amid a significant backlog of cases and a shortage of lawyers that are willing and prepared to tackle these intricate legal battles. This backtrack comes despite the Labour government’s commitment, during their election campaign, to fast-track rape cases using underutilized spaces within crown court premises to ease the growing wait times faced by victims. The initiative, which promised to expedite the proceedings of rape cases through specialized courts at every crown court location across the region, was positioned as a critical … Read more

Urgent Reforms Proposed to Tackle Record-High Backlog in England’s Crown Courts

LONDON, England — Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, has indicated that drastic measures, including possibly doing away with the right to trial by jury, may be necessary to address the unprecedented backlog in England and Wales’ crown courts. Rogers pointed out that the volume of pending cases has soared to a record high, putting significant strain on the entire judiciary system. The Ministry of Justice reports that there are currently 73,105 outstanding criminal cases in crown courts. This severe backlog has prompted Rogers and others within the criminal justice … Read more

Judicial Hopefuls Address Case Backlog in Quest for South Carolina Court of Appeals Seat

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Amidst deliberations to fill a significant judicial position, three candidates vying for a spot on South Carolina’s Court of Appeals faced a legislative panel on Monday. This nomination process is part of a broader movement to address the state’s substantial backlog of court cases. The applicants include Circuit Court Judges Kristi Curtis and Courtney Clyburn Pope, and Jason Luther, the chief legal officer at the state’s Department of Revenue. These judicial hopefuls were scrutinized in a session that underscores a unique aspect of South Carolina’s judiciary—its judges are predominantly elected by the … Read more

Comanche County Court to Address Case Backlog with High-Profile Trials Including Shooting and Assault Charges

LAWTON, Okla. – Comanche County is set to commence its third felony jury docket of the year on Monday, featuring a high-profile case against Christopher Adam East, a man accused of shooting into an occupied mobile home in 2021. The county has organized four extended dockets this year to tackle a significant backlog of cases. East, 33, who goes by aliases including “D-Town,” “Dallas,” and “D-Boy,” faces serious charges including felony discharging a firearm into a dwelling and use of a vehicle in the discharge of a weapon. Additionally, East is charged with possession of … Read more