05 Jul‘Scandal’ delays at Lincoln Crown Court

Judge Sean Morris regards the delay in trials at Lincoln Crown Court as ‘a scandal’.

Judge Sean Morris has sad that the recent delays in court trials at Lincoln Crown are scandal. It appears that it was not possible to seta date for a trial of a man who is facing charges for the possession of indecent images of children. Judge Sean Morris said that this isexpected to last until 2013. He also argues that the court must beable to hear three cases at once. According to Her Majesty’s Courtsand Tribunals Service (HMCTS), courts will always try to list cases atother courts whenever possible. Judge Sean Morris regards the LincolnCrown Court delays as ‘a scandal’ because this court is not funded to sit with three courts all of the time. It seems that some the trials do not get in for a year and sometimes a year and a half after anallegation has taken place. An HMCTS spokesperson said that the listing of individual cases is a judicial function whereas HMCTS workswith the judiciary, as well as other criminal justice offices, on listing issues, or meeting the needs of victims and witnesses in particular. It is claimed that the court will always seek to listcases at neighboring courts whenever possible so that delays are avoided.