An independent review by Sir Brian Leveson recommends more frequent remote hearings and the appointment of a criminal justice adviser for the prime minister to help clear the court backlog in England and Wales. The report, which includes over 130 ways to speed up the legal process, suggests that initial hearings in magistrates' courts and preliminary crown court sessions should take place online. While trials should still happen in person, the report argues that professional witnesses, such as experts or police, should testify remotely by default. Additionally, defendants held in custody could attend their sentencing hearings via video link, unless a victim impact statement is being read in person.

Leveson stood by an earlier proposal to limit jury trials, suggesting instead that judges sit with two lay people (members of the public without legal training) in new "swift courts." However, he did not criticize the government for its decision to remove these public members and have judges sit alone. Richard Atkinson, a criminal defense solicitor and former president of the Law Society, argued that the system needs consistent funding rather than remote-first hearings or legal advice given over video link after an arrest. Meanwhile, Riel Karmy-Jones KC and Andrew Thomas KC, the leaders of the Criminal Bar Association, thanked Leveson for highlighting years of underfunding but warned that there are no easy shortcuts to fixing the system.