Sturgeon calls for both sides to ‘take a breath’ in rape trial reform row
by Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent from World news | The Guardian on (#6BQZA)
Sturgeon laments polarisation in first policy intervention since stepping down as Scotland's first minister
Nicola Sturgeon says the furious backlash to Scottish government plans to pilot jury-less trials for rape cases is the latest example of the polarisation of politics that contributed to her resignation as first minister.
The proposal, part of a wide-ranging justice reform bill introduced by her successor, Humza Yousaf, aims to tackle endemic low conviction rates for rape prosecution, and would make Scotland the first part of the UK to use specialist courts and judge-only trials for serious sexual assaults.
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