Kate Leader
@leader-kate.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer @QMUL Law. Crim law and justice, laypersons and professionalism, conspiracy theories, law + performance. Director of QMUL Criminal Justice Centre. I wrote a book about LiPs. https://www.qmul.ac.uk/law/people/academic-staff/items/leader.html
In all the jury kerfuffle what isn't being discussed and should be is magistrates. The mixed bench proposed by Leveson to replace juries has been quietly dropped in favour of a single judge. And mags sentencing powers are going up again to 18 months (+up to 2 yrs) www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
David Lammy expected to water down plans to scrap most jury trials
Justice secretary suggests he will stick to Leveson’s recommended three-year sentence threshold in England and Wales, after ‘cabinet feedback’
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
In all the jury kerfuffle what isn't being discussed and should be is magistrates. The mixed bench proposed by Leveson to replace juries has been quietly dropped in favour of a single judge. And mags sentencing powers are going up again to 18 months (+up to 2 yrs) www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...
Reposted by Kate Leader
My latest on the gov's proposal to all-but abolish jury trials: a radical move that would leave us out-of-step with most democracies and increase the risk of miscarriages of justice. 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/david-lammy-...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/david-lammy-...
David Lammy’s proposals for judge-only trials would make England and Wales an outlier | Institute for Government
Most countries don’t use jury trials, but few rely on a single judge to pass both verdict and sentence
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 11:42 AM
My latest on the gov's proposal to all-but abolish jury trials: a radical move that would leave us out-of-step with most democracies and increase the risk of miscarriages of justice. 🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/david-lammy-...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/david-lammy-...
Reposted by Kate Leader
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Here is a list of reasons why some of my hearings and trials this year have been delayed and kicked off into the long grass, stuck in our record court backlog. Serious allegations which will now be tried *years* after the event. 🧵👇
This is exactly right. Juries are being sacrificed to political expediency in the absence of any evidence that such a change is needed or wanted. (And just to add I do not think lawyers finding juries annoying qualifies as a good reason to scrap them).
Mr Lammy suggests that this case may delay a rape victim getting justice.
This is bullshit. Court delays are ultimately a political choice - the government choose how many courts sit, what cases are prioritised, how much to spend on investigation and prosecution. /3
This is bullshit. Court delays are ultimately a political choice - the government choose how many courts sit, what cases are prioritised, how much to spend on investigation and prosecution. /3
December 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
This is exactly right. Juries are being sacrificed to political expediency in the absence of any evidence that such a change is needed or wanted. (And just to add I do not think lawyers finding juries annoying qualifies as a good reason to scrap them).
Reposted by Kate Leader
A pensioner with dementia gets a criminal conviction over an unpaid TV Licence
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
Pensioner with dementia convicted over unpaid TV Licence bill
Ailing pensioners, people with mental health struggles, grieving families and children have all been caught up in the Single Justice Procedure scandal
www.standard.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
A pensioner with dementia gets a criminal conviction over an unpaid TV Licence
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
As we are again on the verge of losing juries it's timely, as @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social reports, that we can now access Michael Zander & Paul Henderson's study of the Crown Court from 1993 showing strong support for juries and positive feedback from jurors tinyurl.com/59sza7yf (p223 onwards)
November 28, 2025 at 9:48 AM
As we are again on the verge of losing juries it's timely, as @joshuarozenberg.bsky.social reports, that we can now access Michael Zander & Paul Henderson's study of the Crown Court from 1993 showing strong support for juries and positive feedback from jurors tinyurl.com/59sza7yf (p223 onwards)
Reposted by Kate Leader
‘If asylum is framed as illegality, and settlement is reshaped into a privilege that must be endlessly earned, then our understanding of equal membership – the idea that those lawfully in the UK should enjoy stability and a clear path to full inclusion – is fundamentally altered.’
Asylum is not "illegal migration"
Let's start from here theconversation.com/asylum-is-no...
Let's start from here theconversation.com/asylum-is-no...
Asylum is not illegal migration – why the UK government shouldn’t conflate the two
The new proposals transform settlement into something that must be continually earned. The path has become longer, more conditional and far more easily disrupted.
theconversation.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:47 AM
‘If asylum is framed as illegality, and settlement is reshaped into a privilege that must be endlessly earned, then our understanding of equal membership – the idea that those lawfully in the UK should enjoy stability and a clear path to full inclusion – is fundamentally altered.’
Reposted by Kate Leader
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Quite the correction by the Telegraph. The publication in question is @freemovement.bsky.social
Reposted by Kate Leader
Big news today with the government confirming it's moving ahead with Leveson proposals on removing right for D to elect trial by jury www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Big news today with the government confirming it's moving ahead with Leveson proposals on removing right for D to elect trial by jury www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Big news today with the government confirming it's moving ahead with Leveson proposals on removing right for D to elect trial by jury www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul
Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Big news today with the government confirming it's moving ahead with Leveson proposals on removing right for D to elect trial by jury www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
I have two PhDs and honestly managing to successfully connect to the university printing service is probably my greatest accomplishment
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I have two PhDs and honestly managing to successfully connect to the university printing service is probably my greatest accomplishment
Cant see too many people weeping over this. The turnout at last PCC election averaged something like 23% www.theguardian.com/uk-news2025/...
Police and crime commissioners to be abolished, government to announce
System introduced in 2012 across England and Wales has faced criticism from police chiefs
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Cant see too many people weeping over this. The turnout at last PCC election averaged something like 23% www.theguardian.com/uk-news2025/...
Reposted by Kate Leader
Book Launch! Please join us on Wednesday 19th November @qmul.bsky.social at Queen Mary to hear the wonderful Alan Norrie discuss his latest book. Tix available online or in person - see below! Please repost.
🚨BOOK LAUNCH🚨 at the Criminal Justice Centre QM @qmul.bsky.social @crimjusticecentre.bsky.social
Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice: Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
📅 Wednesday 19th November 6pm - 7.30
📍QMUL Mile End, Room 313
Tix: FREE at tinyurl.com/2s4bf3py
Please share!
Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice: Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
📅 Wednesday 19th November 6pm - 7.30
📍QMUL Mile End, Room 313
Tix: FREE at tinyurl.com/2s4bf3py
Please share!
Book Launch - Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice Punishment...
Book Launch - Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
tinyurl.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Book Launch! Please join us on Wednesday 19th November @qmul.bsky.social at Queen Mary to hear the wonderful Alan Norrie discuss his latest book. Tix available online or in person - see below! Please repost.
Book Launch! Please join us on Wednesday 19th November @qmul.bsky.social at Queen Mary to hear the wonderful Alan Norrie discuss his latest book. Tix available online or in person - see below! Please repost.
🚨BOOK LAUNCH🚨 at the Criminal Justice Centre QM @qmul.bsky.social @crimjusticecentre.bsky.social
Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice: Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
📅 Wednesday 19th November 6pm - 7.30
📍QMUL Mile End, Room 313
Tix: FREE at tinyurl.com/2s4bf3py
Please share!
Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice: Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
📅 Wednesday 19th November 6pm - 7.30
📍QMUL Mile End, Room 313
Tix: FREE at tinyurl.com/2s4bf3py
Please share!
Book Launch - Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice Punishment...
Book Launch - Alan Norrie, Rethinking Criminal Justice Punishment, Abolition and Moral Psychology
tinyurl.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Book Launch! Please join us on Wednesday 19th November @qmul.bsky.social at Queen Mary to hear the wonderful Alan Norrie discuss his latest book. Tix available online or in person - see below! Please repost.
Once when I reviewed book proposals I was paid actual money. For the last five years at least I have been only offered books. Today for the first time the offer has been e-books, which are already free to me. I imagine next I'll be paying them?
November 6, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Once when I reviewed book proposals I was paid actual money. For the last five years at least I have been only offered books. Today for the first time the offer has been e-books, which are already free to me. I imagine next I'll be paying them?
Reposted by Kate Leader
I’ll be in London next week to launch my new book about LGBT rights. Come along for good chats and refreshments! 🍷📖
📆: Tuesday 11th November
⏰: 6.30-8.00pm
📍: Council Room, King’s College London, The Strand
It’s free to attend. Just register for a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/queer...
📆: Tuesday 11th November
⏰: 6.30-8.00pm
📍: Council Room, King’s College London, The Strand
It’s free to attend. Just register for a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/queer...
November 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I’ll be in London next week to launch my new book about LGBT rights. Come along for good chats and refreshments! 🍷📖
📆: Tuesday 11th November
⏰: 6.30-8.00pm
📍: Council Room, King’s College London, The Strand
It’s free to attend. Just register for a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/queer...
📆: Tuesday 11th November
⏰: 6.30-8.00pm
📍: Council Room, King’s College London, The Strand
It’s free to attend. Just register for a ticket here: www.tickettailor.com/events/queer...
In two separate trials relating to the same protest, one group was able to use the "reasonable excuse" statutory defence of public nuisance that included stating agreed climate facts to the jury and were acquitted and the other group were not permitted to use the defence and were convicted.
November 5, 2025 at 9:42 AM
In two separate trials relating to the same protest, one group was able to use the "reasonable excuse" statutory defence of public nuisance that included stating agreed climate facts to the jury and were acquitted and the other group were not permitted to use the defence and were convicted.
Reposted by Kate Leader
From yesterday: Some appeals should still be listed for a hearing even where an unrepresented appellant has not asked for one | Sonia Lenegan
Some appeals should still be listed for a hearing even where an unrepresented appellant has not asked for one - Free Movement
In a newly reported decision, the Upper Tribunal has reminded judges that a hearing should be held whenever credibility is disputed on any material issue or
freemovement.org.uk
October 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
From yesterday: Some appeals should still be listed for a hearing even where an unrepresented appellant has not asked for one | Sonia Lenegan
the only "evidence" against this person is a confession obtained when he was 17 when he was interviewed without family members or legal representation present and was vulnerable.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Family of Cheryl Grimmer say ‘what we want now is the truth’ after NSW MP names suspect in parliament
Girl’s family had told the man, known by pseudonym ‘Mercury’, to meet with them by Wednesday midnight or they would make his identity public
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
the only "evidence" against this person is a confession obtained when he was 17 when he was interviewed without family members or legal representation present and was vulnerable.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Kate Leader
Ministry of Justice convicted of a crime after they failed to enter a plea via their own online plea entering system, unaware of their conviction until notified by a reporter, but they reassure us it's all working great 👍
The Ministry of Justice has been convicted of a crime and fined £1,000, in a closed-door court hearing the department itself was apparently not aware was happening
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m...
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m...
Ministry of Justice handed criminal conviction in fast-track courts
The Ministry of Justice is now seeking to overturn its conviction
www.standard.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Ministry of Justice convicted of a crime after they failed to enter a plea via their own online plea entering system, unaware of their conviction until notified by a reporter, but they reassure us it's all working great 👍
Ministry of Justice convicted of a crime after they failed to enter a plea via their own online plea entering system, unaware of their conviction until notified by a reporter, but they reassure us it's all working great 👍
The Ministry of Justice has been convicted of a crime and fined £1,000, in a closed-door court hearing the department itself was apparently not aware was happening
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m...
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/m...
Ministry of Justice handed criminal conviction in fast-track courts
The Ministry of Justice is now seeking to overturn its conviction
www.standard.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Ministry of Justice convicted of a crime after they failed to enter a plea via their own online plea entering system, unaware of their conviction until notified by a reporter, but they reassure us it's all working great 👍
Sending a mass invitation to academic staff. clicking send, then immediately receiving 40.000 out of office responses.
October 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Sending a mass invitation to academic staff. clicking send, then immediately receiving 40.000 out of office responses.
Reposted by Kate Leader
I was sad to learn of William Twining’s death. He was my partner’s LLM supervisor; we spent time together most recently in 2019 before the world locked down. I’m sure I have a better photo somewhere, but this one captures that one simple day at his home. My deepest condolences to Penelope and family
October 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I was sad to learn of William Twining’s death. He was my partner’s LLM supervisor; we spent time together most recently in 2019 before the world locked down. I’m sure I have a better photo somewhere, but this one captures that one simple day at his home. My deepest condolences to Penelope and family