Criminal Justice Matters

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Kate Bex KC and Chris Henley KC talk to the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, Lord Justice Edis . In his 45 year career at the Bar Lord Justice Edis has held many distinguished roles including; Head of Chambers at Atlantic Chambers in Liverpool, Senior Treasury Co...

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales Simon Spence KC and Kate Bex KC speak to the award-winning actor and long-term supporter of the Criminal Bar, Martin Shaw. From appearing in The Professionals in the 1980s, Judge John Deed in the 2000s and Inspector George Gently in the 2010s, Martin has often starred in leading roles rel...

In this latest episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Francis FitzGibbon KC and Sarah Vine KC lead a discussion on the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is being debated in Parliament.  They are joined by Harriet Wistrich , Chief Executive of the Centre for Women’s Justice and Fiona Rutherford , Chief Executive of Justice. The convers...

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast fromthe  ⁠Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales⁠ , the Member of Parliament for Hull East, Karl Turner, a former Shadow Attorney General, discusses the Government’s proposals for reform of jury trials with CBA podcast hosts Kate Bex KC ⁠  and  ⁠Simon Spence KC⁠ . Karl Turner is a Labour MP and a former practising criminalbarrister w...

In this special episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales , regular hosts Kate Bex KC and Simon Spence KC are joined by The Secret Barrister. The Secret Barrister is a practising criminal barrister whose books and blog highlighting shortcomings in the criminal justice system are read by thousands and have shone a light on the daily rea...

In this latest episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales,former Chair of the CBA Mary Prior KC   discusses with the Chair of the Bar Council,   Barbara Mills KC the privilege, responsibility and pressures of their offices, and their efforts to help barristers of all backgrounds become the best they can be.  Mary and Barbara share their...

In this third episode dealing with the Leveson Review, Daniel Oscroft, a specialist criminal barrister with over 20 years’ experience who practices from No5 Chambers, discusses the existing inefficiencies in the criminal courts system with Simon Spence KC and Kate Bex KC .   The Leveson Review was commissioned by the Government and published on 9 July 2025. In his report, Sir Brian Leveson made a...

Sir Brian Leveson has published his recommendations into how changes could be made to the criminal jusitce system aimed at addressing the backlog of cases awaiting trial and taking pressure off the criminal courts. His recommendations include limiting the right to jury trial, resolving more cases before they reach the courts and the creation of a new Crown Court Bench Division which would see judg...

Kate Bex KC and Simon Spence KC are joined in this episode by Claire Waxman OBE who was appointed London’s first Independent Victims’ Commissioner in 2017. Together they discuss the vexed issue of whether or not offenders should be forced to attend their sentencing hearing. Is it a necessary part of the process? Should physical force be used to produce them at Court or threaten them with the loss...

In this latest episode of Criminal Justice Matters, Kate Bex KC and Simon Spence KC are joined by former Criminal Bar Association Chair Francis FitzGibbon KC to discuss the up-coming Review of the Criminal Justice System by Sir Brian Leveson. In late 2024, Sir Brian was appointed to consider the futureof criminal justice in England and Wales. The terms of reference suggested that radical changes w...

In this latest episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast, Simon Spence KC and Kate Bex KC discuss the implications of the growing backlog of Crown Court cases on the criminal justice system. The podcast includes an extract from evidence given by the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr in Parliament last year in which she set out how the reduction in sitting days was having a wide impact on...

In this third episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the podcast series from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Mary Prior KC, Chair of the CBA together with James Gray, CBA Treasurer, draw on their and other justice professionals’ first hand experience to illustrate the personal toll on criminal barristers as they struggle to maintain the excellence expected in every case prosecuted...

In this episode of the first series of Criminal Justice Matters - the authoritative podcast series from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales - the former chair of the CBA, Kirsty Brimelow KC, talks to Laurie-Anne Power KC about their lives and choice to pursue a career at the criminal bar. The Criminal Justice Matters podcast is produced and edited by Adam Batstone Media & Commu...

In this third episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the authoritative podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales, the former chair of the CBA Kirsty Brimelow KC talks to Mary Prior KC about the issues surrounding the criminal justice system relating to rape and serious sexual assault cases. Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communica...

In this fourth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the authoritative podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales, the former chair of the CBA Kirsty Brimelow KC talks to some of the stars and trailblazers of the Criminal Bar. Here she speaks to Jeremy Dein KC and Nina Graham KC. Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠

In this fifth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the authoritative podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales, the former chair of the CBA Kirsty Brimelow KC talks to stars and trailblazers at the Criminal Bar. In this episode she talks to Laurie-Anne Power KC and Jaime Hamilton KC. Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications...

In this sixth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the authoritative podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales, the former chair of the CBA Kirsty Brimelow KC talks to the stars and trailblazers of the Criminal Bar. In this episode she talks to Courtenay Griffiths KC This episode contains racist language which some listeners may find offensive. Criminal Justice Matters is pr...

In this second episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the authoritative podcast from the Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales, the former chair of the CBA Kirsty Brimelow KC talks to young junior barristers Zayd Ahmed and Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe about their decision to join the criminal bar. Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠

In this second episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the podcast series from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Mary Prior KC, Vice Chair of the CBA explains how serious delays in the courts are jeopardising the entire justice system.  We hear from Paul, a man who spent four years on bail awaiting trial. He talks about the impact on his life, from his family and friends putting him...

This is Criminal Justice Matters – the podcast series from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) of England and Wales.  Cases concerning rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) take up a significant amount of time in the criminal courts and have a huge impact on people's lives. This latest series is presented by Mary Prior KC , one of the country's most experienced criminal barristers in thi...