SIGN PETITION: Defend Jury Trials – Protect the Right to Appeal
We oppose proposals to weaken fundamental safeguards in the criminal justice system, including reducing the use of jury trials and restricting defendants’ rights to appeal convictions or sentences.
The right to be tried by a jury of one’s peers and the ability to challenge a conviction in a higher court are long-standing protections against error, abuse, and wrongful conviction. These safeguards help ensure that justice is not only efficient, but fair and accountable.
Delays in the courts must not be "solved" by removing basic rights that protect the public.
We call on the government to abandon these proposed changes and instead focus on measures that reduce the court backlog while preserving the fundamental rights and safeguards that underpin public confidence in the justice system.