Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

England and Wales contempt reforms unchanged by judge-only trials; proceedings 'active' from charge with ECHR-based approach to reporting restrictions

Published on: 16 March 2026

Published by a Law360 reporter

Legal News

Article summary

The Law Commission, the statutory body that examines laws in England and Wales, told Law360 on 11 March 2026 that it will not revisit proposals to simplify and modernise the country's rules governing reporting on criminal proceedings and related matters. It added that existing guidance already tackles judge-only trials. In November 2025, the Law Commission set out plans to overhaul the law of contempt after a government request to consider reforms aimed at improving effectiveness, consistency and coherence. The options outlined included a new test for general contempt and other contempt types, and a change to the point at which criminal proceedings are deemed 'active'. A spokesperson for the Commission said the recommendations in its report would apply 'regardless of whether the particular proceedings are heard by a judge or jury'. Those recommendations were prepared before government ministers proposed carving out white-collar offences from the traditional jury model in cases seen as exceptionally complex and lengthy. A review of the criminal justice system has been undertaken by Brian Leveson...

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