Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 May 2026
Correspondence from The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 21 May 2026 relating to the extension of broadcasting within the Chief Magistrate's Court and the Administrative Court
From: Justice Committee
Summary
Lord Chancellor David Lammy informs the Justice Select Committee that the Government intends to introduce secondary legislation in 2026 to enable recording and broadcasting in the Chief Magistrate's Court and the Administrative Court. The Government will first allow broadcasting of sentencing remarks by the Chief Magistrate, establish a joint working group to explore further criminal court broadcasting, and legislate to enable Administrative Court broadcasting following a Transparency and Open Justice Board recommendation.
Key findings
- Government will bring forward secondary legislation to allow recording and broadcasting in the Chief Magistrate's Court and Administrative Court, subject to parliamentary time
- Chief Magistrate sentencing remarks will be broadcast as a first step, enabling public access to the most high-profile cases in that court
- A joint working group will be established with the Lady Chief Justice to explore further expansion of broadcasting in criminal courts, aligned with the Transparency and Open Justice Board's ongoing work
- Administrative Court broadcasting legislation follows a recommendation by the Transparency and Open Justice Board and represents a significant move for judicial transparency
- A new Judicial and Legal Diversity Board will be jointly chaired by the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice to address diversity barriers in the legal profession
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
David Lammy, Andy Slaughter, Lady Chief Justice, Justice Select Committee, Transparency and Open Justice Board, HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Notable line
“Court transparency strengthens public confidence in justice and is a shared priority for this Government and the judiciary.”
Key Quotes
“Court transparency strengthens public confidence in justice and is a shared priority for this Government and the judiciary.”
“Broadcasting of court sentencing remarks has been important in enabling wider public access to, and understanding of, the criminal justice system.”
“This will, for the first time, enable broadcasting of the most high-profile cases in the Chief Magistrate 's court, bringing proceedings more fully into public view.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗