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King's Speech 2026: Justice

Approximate time to read: 12 minutes

This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about justice.

Two government bills are being carried over from the 2024–26 parliamentary session. The Courts and Tribunals Bill would reform the criminal courts and tribunals system in England and Wales, for example by introducing judge-only trials for certain offences. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill includes provisions that would establish a legal duty of candour and assistance for public officials at inquiries and investigations into the state. Both bills have completed their committee stage in the House of Commons.

The government has also announced plans to introduce legislation in other areas. This includes proposals to clarify the legal status and regulation of litigation funding agreements, establish a regulatory framework for the debt enforcement sector, and reform marriage law. Additionally, the government has said it would consider legislative options to better protect prison separation centre decision-making from litigation based on European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) grounds.

This briefing has been prepared to assist members of the House of Lords in the debates on the King’s Speech. It draws upon material from the public domain and does not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.