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Dear [Insert MP name here],

As a concerned constituent, I am writing to you today to ask for two actions aimed at addressing a pressing issue within our justice system.

In the last year, there was some great progress made towards supporting victims going through courts, and making our justice system more accessible and open to all. For example, the law change in the Sentencing Bill, enabling all victims to access their sentencing remarks free of charge. This has been a fundamental change that has positively impacted many lives across the country.

However, in 2025, 92% of cases went through a Magistrate Court. Currently, these are not being recorded. The Courts and Tribunals bill includes the recording of Magistrates Courts and is something that needs to be backed and made into law immediately, so that victims who go through Magistrates Courts have access to their recordings.

I do not believe this is going far enough. We need to extend the free sentencing remarks to victims going through the Magistrates Courts. And give access to the judges summing up, so all victims can have access to understanding of what happened in court, not just the 2% that get a guilty verdict.

Victims are often dissuaded from attending trial after giving evidence; if they do attend, they struggle to take in information, given the trauma, legal language, and fast-paced nature of court proceedings. And the fact remains that if they want a transcript of proceedings to understand and come to terms with the justice outcome, they are quoted hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds to access these.

The government has been clear that “open justice is a fundamental principle at the very heart of our justice system and vital to the rule of law”, and even that “accessing transcripts from proceedings in serious criminal cases is not only a fundamental right of victims but is also essential for maintaining transparency and accountability within the justice system”. And yet, that is still not happening.

Jess Brown-Fuller has submitted an Early Day Motion laying out the changes that we still need

- Sentencing remarks should be made available upon request for hearings in the Magistrates' courts, at no cost

- The road to verdict / judges summing up transcripts and/or audio recordings of hearings in the Crown Court and Magistrate Court should be provided to victims upon request, at no cost

- Crown Court and Magistrate Court sentencing remarks and routes to verdict should ultimately be published in the interest of open justice

I firmly believe that these proposed changes are not only necessary but also aligned with the original principles of Open Justice and the fundamental rights of victims in our justice system. By backing Open Justice for All, you can help ensure that justice is not only served but is seen to be served, restoring trust and confidence in our legal system.

Why This Matters to Your Party's Mission:

Whether your focus is on Labour’s commitment to victims' rights and justice reform, the Conservative values of institutional accountability, the Liberal Democrat championing of civil liberties, Reform UK’s drive to cut through broken state bureaucracy, or the Green Party’s dedication to equality, this issue is a matter of basic common sense. Access to justice should never depend on a citizen's ability to pay.

I ask that you please:

- Sign the EDM that Jess Brown-Fuller has laid out to back these changes, and urge your colleagues and peers to do so as well

- Raise an oral or written question asking what steps the government is taking to make all court transcripts free for victims, for the next Justice hearing which is on the 30th of June, to keep the topic alive in the House of Commons

Together, we can work towards a more just and transparent justice system that truly serves the needs of both victims and the public.

You can add your name by contacting the Public Bill Office or Table Office.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response in this vital endeavour.