Jess Brown-Fuller visits newly secured Chichester Crown Court

This week, Jess Brown-Fuller visited Chichester Crown Court for the first time since confirmation that it will remain fully open. The court has served as a Nightingale Court in recent years following its closure under the Conservative Government in 2018. 

Jess received a tour of the building from the Court’s Operations Manager, meeting court staff and His Honour Judge Dow. During the visit, Jess discussed planned investment in the court, pressure on court staff, and the impact of potential Government reforms to jury trials. She also sat in on proceedings, witnessing the work of the court first-hand. 

Jess Brown-Fuller MP outside Chichester Crown Court.

 Jess has repeatedly raised the issue of the crown court in Parliament, calling for the court to be reinstated to help tackle delays and improve access to justice for local communities. In November 2025, she wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy, calling for the reopening of Chichester Crown Court. 

Following the tour, Jess said: 

“I am delighted that Chichester Crown Court will lose its Nightingale status and reopen in full, something I have been campaigning for since my election in 2024. 

“The benefits of this were clear to see during my tour. Long-term planning, staff retention, and investment will all improve as a result of this move. I was grateful for the opportunity to see the great work of the staff and justice in action by sitting in on proceedings. 

“It was also extremely helpful to discuss Government posturing on jury trials and wider issues in the justice system with His Honour Judge Dow. I am extremely concerned that the Government is fundamentally missing many of the issues currently plaguing the system by focusing solely on jury trials, and I will continue to raise these concerns in Parliament as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Justice.”