As Leader of the North Eastern Circuit, Trinity's Caroline Goodwin K.C. gave evidence at a Parliamentary Committee examining the Courts and Tribunals Bill held in the Boothroyd Room, Westminster on 25th March 2026.
During the session it was emphasised that the 800 year old constitutional principle of having a Jury Trial was not the cause of the current criminal Court delays, but that years of underinvestment and institutional inefficiencies were to blame.
When highlighting what efficiencies could be made within the Criminal Justice system, which in turn could protect Jury trials, Caroline Goodwin K.C. said:
"There's a will from the Judiciary, there's a will from the practitioners and we've just got to make it work. If you've got experienced Judges telling you I need 'blitz Courts', I need more Courts, let's open them, let's staff them, let's resource them, let's make them work."
Other witnesses giving evidence at the Public Bill Committee included:
- Kirsty Brimelow K.C., Chair, The Bar Council
- Heidi Stonecliffe K.C., Vice Chair, The Bar Council
- Riel Karmy-Jones K.C., Chair, Criminal Bar Association
- Samantha Hillas K.C., Leader, Northern Circuit
- Claire Davies K.C., Leader, South Eastern Circuit
A full recording can be found here.