Lord Hodge

The UK Supreme Court justice made the remarks in a speech in Shanghai on “The involvement of the public in the criminal process in the United Kingdom”.

He told the audience at Shanghai Jiao Tong University: “I generally share the public’s confidence that juries usually reach the correct decision on the evidence which they have heard in criminal trials, particularly in relation to straightforward criminal charges such as assault and murder, or the supply of illegal drugs.

“My one doubt about the efficiency of the jury system relates to cases concerned with complex financial crimes, which often require long trials involving technical evidence and which place a heavy burden on a jury.

“I think that there is a case to be made for such offences to be tried by a tribunal or court which includes specialists either in place of or in addition to members of the public.”

However, Lord Hodge said there are “many distinguished lawyers who would not agree because they see the jury system as a fundamental part of the constitution of the United Kingdom”.

The full speech is available for download from the UK Supreme Court website.