A barrister has doubts about increasing the threshold for the right to a jury trial. 

Currently a defendant can choose between a jury or a judge-alone trial in cases where the maximum penalty is two or more years in jail. 

The Government's seeking feedback on increasing this to three, five, or seven years, in a bid to address court delays. 

Philip Morgan KC told Ryan Bridge he questions the number of jury trials that will drop because of the threshold change.

He says that's because he thinks the number of jury trials where the maximum penalty of the offence is two or three years in jail, is very small.

LISTEN ABOVE

A barrister has doubts about increasing the threshold for the right to a jury trial.  
Currently a defendant can choose between a jury or a judge-alone trial in cases where the maximum penalty is two or more years in jail.  
The Government's seeking feedback on increasing this to three, five, or seven years, in a bid to address court delays.  
Philip Morgan KC told Ryan Bridge he questions the number of jury trials that will drop because of the threshold change. 
He says that's because he thinks the number of jury trials where the maximum penalty of the offence is two or three years in jail, is very small. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

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