Michelle Heeley KC
@brummybar.bsky.social
Head of No 5 Chambers. Leader of the Midland Circuit 2021-24, Criminal Silk, wife, mother to two boys, and chief tummy tickler to our dog Clemmie
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.
Trial and error?: The impact of restricting jury trials on court demand | Institute for Government
The government’s reforms will unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
January 22, 2026 at 7:41 AM
NEW REPORT: the gov’s proposals for judge-only trials will deliver only marginal savings and distract from the real route out of this crisis: reversing recent falls in court productivity.
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Clemmie wishes you all a Happy and Healthy 2026
January 1, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Clemmie wishes you all a Happy and Healthy 2026
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
Finally! An accurate explanation of the courts backlog from journalists!
And you'll notice that juries have absolutely F all to do with it!
This is correct. Lammy and Leveson etc are not telling you the truth in their PR campaign to ruin the CJS yet more.
And you'll notice that juries have absolutely F all to do with it!
This is correct. Lammy and Leveson etc are not telling you the truth in their PR campaign to ruin the CJS yet more.
How did the courts backlog get so bad?
There are now 79,600 outsanding criminal cases in England and Wales - a record high. BBC Verify looks at how we got here.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Finally! An accurate explanation of the courts backlog from journalists!
And you'll notice that juries have absolutely F all to do with it!
This is correct. Lammy and Leveson etc are not telling you the truth in their PR campaign to ruin the CJS yet more.
And you'll notice that juries have absolutely F all to do with it!
This is correct. Lammy and Leveson etc are not telling you the truth in their PR campaign to ruin the CJS yet more.
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
Justice needs juries.
Write to your MP to oppose the restriction of jury trials.
Download the template ➡️ https://bit.ly/4pnfz4o
#JusticeNeedsJuries #WriteToYourMP
Write to your MP to oppose the restriction of jury trials.
Download the template ➡️ https://bit.ly/4pnfz4o
#JusticeNeedsJuries #WriteToYourMP
December 6, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Justice needs juries.
Write to your MP to oppose the restriction of jury trials.
Download the template ➡️ https://bit.ly/4pnfz4o
#JusticeNeedsJuries #WriteToYourMP
Write to your MP to oppose the restriction of jury trials.
Download the template ➡️ https://bit.ly/4pnfz4o
#JusticeNeedsJuries #WriteToYourMP
Honouring one of Birmingham’s finest
July 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Honouring one of Birmingham’s finest
Why can’t my commute to work be like this every day?
July 8, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Why can’t my commute to work be like this every day?
Working from home, the dog has resolutely ignored me all morning. I make myself lunch, suddenly she’s my new best friend.
June 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Working from home, the dog has resolutely ignored me all morning. I make myself lunch, suddenly she’s my new best friend.
Is there a more “Bank Holiday job” than sorting out the kitchen drawers?
May 24, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Is there a more “Bank Holiday job” than sorting out the kitchen drawers?
Is there a greater look of disgust than that from a bulldog with whom you won’t share lunch?
May 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Is there a greater look of disgust than that from a bulldog with whom you won’t share lunch?
An honour to attend a Garden Party, with thanks to the Bar Council for the nomination
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
An honour to attend a Garden Party, with thanks to the Bar Council for the nomination
Tune in to Michael Portillo’s Railway Journeys to see my husband talking about his passion for Tolkien at Sarehole Mill- tonight 6.30pm BBC2
April 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Tune in to Michael Portillo’s Railway Journeys to see my husband talking about his passion for Tolkien at Sarehole Mill- tonight 6.30pm BBC2
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
If you're planning your travel to Birmingham for Bar Conference 2025 we've got a great offer for you from our travel partner. TrainSplit is offering all event attendees £10 back on their train travel when booking through the TrainSplit app.
Find out more
www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...
Find out more
www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...
April 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
If you're planning your travel to Birmingham for Bar Conference 2025 we've got a great offer for you from our travel partner. TrainSplit is offering all event attendees £10 back on their train travel when booking through the TrainSplit app.
Find out more
www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...
Find out more
www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve...
Turn off the news, ignore worries about International Trade, just enjoy a picture of our magnolia tree in full bloom!
April 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Turn off the news, ignore worries about International Trade, just enjoy a picture of our magnolia tree in full bloom!
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
After doing various news-shows last week, talking about Adolesence, I had so many people asking for more advice on teenage boys, I wrote this: www.mumsnet.com/articles/adv...
Caitlin Moran: "My 5 pieces of advice for parents of teen boys" | Mumsnet
In the wake of Adolescence, journalist, broadcaster and author Caitlin Moran reveals her five essential tips for how to talk to, and raise, teenage boys.
www.mumsnet.com
April 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM
After doing various news-shows last week, talking about Adolesence, I had so many people asking for more advice on teenage boys, I wrote this: www.mumsnet.com/articles/adv...
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
I've written a blog attempting to offer some answers to 'Adolescence': thepaternitytest.blogspot.com/2025/03/atte...
March 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I've written a blog attempting to offer some answers to 'Adolescence': thepaternitytest.blogspot.com/2025/03/atte...
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
If you are preparing your silk application and would like some support, take a look at our silk mentoring service.
Or, if you are a KC and would like to help someone through the process, we welcome new mentors.
Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...
Or, if you are a KC and would like to help someone through the process, we welcome new mentors.
Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...
March 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
If you are preparing your silk application and would like some support, take a look at our silk mentoring service.
Or, if you are a KC and would like to help someone through the process, we welcome new mentors.
Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...
Or, if you are a KC and would like to help someone through the process, we welcome new mentors.
Find out more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-...
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
To mark International Women's Day tomorrow, Chair Barbara Mills KC and other women leaders in law share their advice for the next generation of lawyers in @legalcheek.bsky.social
Barbara Mills KC shares the 3 things that have made a real difference to her over the years⬇️
Read more bit.ly/4hkpoel
Barbara Mills KC shares the 3 things that have made a real difference to her over the years⬇️
Read more bit.ly/4hkpoel
March 7, 2025 at 5:09 PM
To mark International Women's Day tomorrow, Chair Barbara Mills KC and other women leaders in law share their advice for the next generation of lawyers in @legalcheek.bsky.social
Barbara Mills KC shares the 3 things that have made a real difference to her over the years⬇️
Read more bit.ly/4hkpoel
Barbara Mills KC shares the 3 things that have made a real difference to her over the years⬇️
Read more bit.ly/4hkpoel
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
📣 Important announcement!
@thebarcouncil.bsky.social practising certificate renewal portal is now open.
When renewing your practising certificate, you have the opportunity to donate to Advocate.
If you can, please consider donating.
🔎 Find out more on our website: bit.ly/ATP2025
@thebarcouncil.bsky.social practising certificate renewal portal is now open.
When renewing your practising certificate, you have the opportunity to donate to Advocate.
If you can, please consider donating.
🔎 Find out more on our website: bit.ly/ATP2025
March 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
📣 Important announcement!
@thebarcouncil.bsky.social practising certificate renewal portal is now open.
When renewing your practising certificate, you have the opportunity to donate to Advocate.
If you can, please consider donating.
🔎 Find out more on our website: bit.ly/ATP2025
@thebarcouncil.bsky.social practising certificate renewal portal is now open.
When renewing your practising certificate, you have the opportunity to donate to Advocate.
If you can, please consider donating.
🔎 Find out more on our website: bit.ly/ATP2025
Ah- that moment when you are CVP linking from a room in one court building to another, and the motion sensitive lights go out, plunging you in darkness- only to come back on when you start waving like a lunatic.
February 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Ah- that moment when you are CVP linking from a room in one court building to another, and the motion sensitive lights go out, plunging you in darkness- only to come back on when you start waving like a lunatic.
Reposted by Michelle Heeley KC
Part 1 of the sentencing review echoes our concerns about how we got here and the scale of the problem. We're at a point of crisis and we agree: change is needed now.
Long sentences aren't always the right long-term solution. Radical thinking is required.
Read our full statement: bit.ly/3EIcwkJ
Long sentences aren't always the right long-term solution. Radical thinking is required.
Read our full statement: bit.ly/3EIcwkJ
February 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Part 1 of the sentencing review echoes our concerns about how we got here and the scale of the problem. We're at a point of crisis and we agree: change is needed now.
Long sentences aren't always the right long-term solution. Radical thinking is required.
Read our full statement: bit.ly/3EIcwkJ
Long sentences aren't always the right long-term solution. Radical thinking is required.
Read our full statement: bit.ly/3EIcwkJ
Pie, pint, Villa, happy days!
February 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Pie, pint, Villa, happy days!