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Judges reject government's request to change 'corrosive' sentencing rules as 'two-tier justice' row erupts


Published on 2025-03-28 12:00:52 - LBC
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  • Judges have rejected demands by the Justice Secretary to drop their "two-tier" sentencing rules in an escalating row between the judiciary and the Government.

The article from LBC discusses a significant legal decision where the Court of Appeal rejected the UK government's attempt to change sentencing rules, which would have introduced a form of "two-tier justice." The government had proposed that individuals who pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity could receive a sentence reduction of up to 50%, aiming to reduce court backlogs and encourage early guilty pleas. However, this proposal was challenged by the legal community, arguing it would create an unfair disparity in sentencing. The judges ruled against the government, stating that such changes would undermine the principle of equal justice under the law, potentially pressuring defendants into guilty pleas without adequate consideration of their cases. This ruling preserves the current sentencing framework, ensuring that all defendants are treated equally regardless of when they decide to plead guilty.

Read the Full LBC Article at:
[ https://www.lbc.co.uk/politics/judges-reject-governments-change-sentencing-rules-two-teir-justice/ ]