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 Counsel of the Central Criminal Court from 2008 until 2014, High Court Judge in the King’s Bench Division. As Senior Presiding Judge, he was closely involved in restarting jury trials following the Covid 19 pandemic. He has been Vice Chair of the Sentencing Council since August 2025 and he was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2021.

In the podcast Lord Justice Edis sets out his thoughts on the efforts being made to tackle the backlog of cases in the Crown Court, and describes the different use of listing practices in some circuits which are beginning to reap rewards in terms of cutting the backlog.

The podcast touches on the increased of use of Artificial Intelligence in the courts and the arguments for and against AI. The increased use of cameras in court is discussed and what impact that may have on the criminal justice system and the public’s perception of it.

And Lord Justice Edis reflects on the negative impact of dwindling ‘conviviality’ among legal professionals and talks about his experiences as a keen cricketer, representing his Chambers in matches played with and against his colleagues.

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited on behalf of the Criminal Bar Association by Adam Batstone Media & Communications

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 relating to the criminal justice system. While he says this was more by accident than design, he does have a long-standing belief in fairness and the importance of justice. He says his career has left him with a deep respect for those working at the Criminal Bar and a desire to depict the system accurately.

As a direct consequence of his work, Martin is a long-time supporter and advocate for the Kalisher Trust, which helps young people from diverse backgrounds to make a career at the Criminal Bar.

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by Adam Batstone Media & Communications

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 conversation focuses on two key elements of the proposed legislation; the reduction of the right to choose trial by jury in cases which carry a sentence of less than three years and the implications for women complainants in rape and serious sexual offence cases whose cases are subject to some of the most lengthy delays within the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice Matters is edited and produced on behalf of the CBA by Adam Batstone Media & Communications