In England and Wales jury trials are used for criminal cases, requiring 12 (between the ages of 18 and 70) jurors. The right to a jury trial has long been enshrined in English law, and is most common in the serious cases, although the defendant can insist on a jury trial for most criminal matters. Jury trials have been described as expensive and time-consuming in complex fraud cases by some members and appointees of the Labour Party.[27] In contrast, the Bar Council, Liberty and other political parties have supported the idea that trial by jury is at the heart of the judicial system and placed the blame for a few complicated jury trials failing on inadequate preparation by the prosecution.[28] On 18 June 2009 the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting in the Court of Appeal, made English legal history by ruling that a criminal trial in the Crown Court could take place without a jury.[29]
Jury trials are also available for some few areas of civil law (for example cases involving police conduct), which require 10 jurors not 12, but less than one percent of civil trials involve juries.[30] At the new Manchester Civil Justice Centre, constructed in 2008, of the 48 courtrooms, fewer than 10 had jury facilities.

In England and Wales manslaughter has a "discretionary" life sentence, as opposed to the mandatory one for murder. This means the judge's discretion is used. He could impose any sentence at all, from an unconditional discharge, which means a conviction is recorded but no punishment given, right up to life imprisonment, or even a fine. Fines for manslaughter are normal where the defendant is a company rather than an individual (although it is usually easier to prosecute in such cases as a health and safety breach, as the punishment is the same and the conviction easier to obtain). An individual can expect a sentence of a few years.