The webpage for the Justice Committee of the House of Commons explains its function as examining, “the policies and spending of the Ministry of Justice (and associated public bodies). This includes courts, legal aid, prisons, probation and the rule of law. It also advises on sentencing guidelines. It cannot consider individual cases.”
Open justice: court reporting in the digital age (2022-2023)
1st November 2022 – Committee report
The report considers: the decline of court reporting and its effects; barriers to open justice; reform to the courts that will facilitate open justice; the-then Transparency Pilot. The report also makes various recommendations.
16th January 2023 – Government Response
The response addresses each recommendation that the Committee made, and re-states that the government is “committed to facilitating and supporting court reporting” (§118).
Public opinion and understanding of sentencing (2023)
31st January 2023 – Correspondence from Minister of State for Justice, Rt Hon Edward Argar MP
25th October 2023 – Committee report
The report considers: the purposes of sentencing; the public’s understand sentencing; the public’s opinion on sentencing; the role of the media and social media in facilitating an understanding of sentencing. The report also makes various recommendations.
18th January 2024 – Government and Sentencing Council response
The government and sentencing council addresses each recommendation that the Committee made.
Work of the County Court (launched 21st January 2025; work ongoing)
Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network 