Nothing like a broken Crown Court Digital Case System when we've all been forced to go paperless...another level of "broken" to add to the ongoing bin fire previously known as the Criminal Justice System. PS clearing the cookies doesn't work!

A Crown Court in the South East has just listed a bail trial for the first week of 2028.

Congratulations to our new President @caseyleej who we know will lead our association with the same energy and enthusiasm that she has shown since joining our committee . Thank you to @EdwardJones16 for all your hard work and leadership as our outgoing president .

Reminder of our event tomorrow night!

Missed this from Wednesday. Well done @kirkkorner and @jonblackbsb

@jonblackbsb @CourtsIdle Today. Arrest and charged April 2020. 3rd listing for trial set today…September 2026 6yrs 5 months. All of us ageing/retiring/giving up legal aid are not going to be around to collect the fee for our years of work.

Here’s a good one …fresh into the inbox from a crown court “We write of inform you that unfortunately due to budgetary sitting day cuts we have had to vacate and re list the trial from January 2025 to February 2026”. Investigated and arrested 2021 @CourtsIdle

Another day in Essex Magistrates another summary trial fixed for January 2026!!!!

130 criminal defence firms sign letter to lord chancellor about criminal justice collapsing through insufficient legal aid provision ⁦@KarlTurnerMP⁩ ⁦@lucianaberger⁩ ⁦@TheCriminalBar⁩ ⁦⁦@Freedland⁩ ⁦@SCynic1⁩

Criminal firms warn the Lord Chancellor that applications for new crime contracts should not be seen as an indication that firms will continue to provide criminal defence services if funding commitments are not met. "We fully expect that the majority of firms undertaking

Another day another broken court delayed rape trial Hove Crown Court all 4 court rooms closed No running water today 7 week rape trial stops on day 2 All counsel and witnesses turning back 19 count case 7 young female complainants Will the trial move to a London court? TBC

Prisons are even worse, today had a video link with a client at a London prison to be told he is “tapped” out and not in the prison , I asked where he was and their reply, no idea and that he could be dead and they wouldn’t know! How reassuring

@HudsonKerry Yes I'm listening. And I'm understanding your frustration. The Justice system is - suffering from neglect by successive Govts. I say that as a former Probation Service Board Member. (Pre Failing Grayling)

No one should be pleading guilty or not guilty to any crime when the evidence is served so late that their consideration of it is reduced to a snatched few minutes across a prison video link immediately before their court hearing. This is basic.

We are limping along to a slow halt. Is anybody listening?

Even if the said evidence is served late this afternoon, defence have no opportunity to consider this in office hours or to take instructions from the defendant. He will appear via video link tomorrow so we'd have 5 or 10 mins tops before a plea is expected to advise him.

This is not a functioning criminal justice system. Marked as a Not Guilty anticipated plea case, the key evidence should have been served for the 1st magistrates' court hearing. Nearly 5 weeks later and defence have still not had sight of ANY evidence against this defendant.

If anyone is wondering what the level of "collapse" now is in the Crown Courts: At nearly 3pm the day before a PTPH for a remanded defendant accused of section 20 wounding (DV) there's no Draft indictment and no key statements or exhibits AT ALL been served.

🚨 Law Society calls on criminal legal aid firms to reconsider their role 🚨 The Law Society is advising firms providing criminal legal aid to review their viability due to the lack of adequate government support. https://t.co/tJHE5yHXpp #LegalAid #CriminalLaw

As we approach World Mental Health Day, these are my allocated police station duty slots from the LAA over the next 3 days: Today 3pm to 11pm Tomorrow 8am to 4pm Thurs 4pm to midnight There's zero room for work/life balance for Duty Solicitors. Hence noone wants to do it anymore