A SENIOR Wiltshire solicitor has claimed the court service’s “failure to get a grip” and speed cases through the system “threatens to destroy” criminal defence lawyers.

Richard Griffiths, who in 1979 set up the solicitors’ firm that bears his name, labelled the management of the criminal justice system unfair on victims and witnesses, calling it a shambles.

In a letter to the authorities, which has been seen by the Adver, Mr Griffiths said: “A properly functioning judicial system that deals in a timely and fair manner with criminal cases and civil cases alike is a cornerstone of any liberal democracy. The stakes are therefore extremely high.”

His criticism followed that of Swindon lawyer Rob Ross, head of firm Ross Solicitors, who hit out at HM Court and Tribunal Service’s plans to open the town’s magistrates’ court on a Saturday to deal with lower-level driving cases. He said firms were not being paid extra to send duty solicitors to the Saturday driving courts.

Both Mr Ross and Mr Griffiths spoke of delays in cases coming to court. The situation had been exacerbated by the coronavirus lockdown.

And Mr Griffiths said that the delays threatened to undermine the livelihoods of the lawyers, many of whom represent legal aid-funded clients, who rely on a steady flow of cases being heard by the courts.

He warned: “The failure of HMCTS to get a grip and start a meaningful flow of cases through the magistrates’ court not only means that we do not have a properly functioning criminal justice system; it threatens to destroy a key element within that system namely those who are criminal defence lawyers.”

The solicitor added: “The present malfunctioning of the Criminal Justice System is also unfair on victims and potential witnesses — it is in brief a shambles.”

He said the government was “sleepwalking” into a situation where they may be forced to set up a Public Defender Service, of the type seen in the US and responsible for defending those accused of crimes who cannot afford a lawyer. “This will make the current legal aid budge look like pocket money.”

HMCTS hit back. In a statement, the government department said: “We have worked throughout the pandemic to keep the justice system running and resumed cases at Swindon and Salisbury magistrates’ courts more than 10 weeks ago.

“In addition we have increased remote hearings, prioritised urgent cases and opened the first Nightingale Courts.”