Overview

• The outstanding caseload has climbed 11% from 69,021 cases in March 2024.
• Courts and Legal Services Minister Sarah Sackman KC warned the backlog could exceed 100,000 by 2028 if current trends continue.
• Disruptions from the pandemic, a shortage of barristers and judges and deteriorating court infrastructure have all fueled mounting delays.
• Mary Prior KC of the Criminal Bar Association urged reopening closed crown court rooms but cautioned that any reforms will take at least a year to implement.
• Ministry of Justice figures reveal stark regional disparities, with some courts holding more than 2,300 unresolved cases.