There has not been a libel jury trial in the High Court in London since July 2009.  The Draft Defamation Bill proposes to remove the right to trial by jury in libel and slander cases.  The decision of the Court of Appeal in Thornton v Telegraph Media Group on 22 June 2011 was another strong indication of the attitude of the Courts to this ancient constitutional right.  The Court allowed the defendant’s appeal against the refusal of Tugendhat J to vary the trial directions to provide for trial by judge alone.  The matter was remitted to the judge and an order has now been made by consent for trial by judge alone. Continue reading