The court of appeal today ruled that a criminal trial can be heard without a jury for the first time.

Three judges in London, headed by the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, gave the go-ahead because of a “very significant” danger of jury tampering.  Lord Judge said the case concerned “very serious criminal activity” arising from a robbery at a warehouse at Heathrow airport in 2004.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/18/criminal-trial-without-jury

photo credit: Foraggio Fotographic