Jennifer Morris

Junior Counsel

CALLED

2018

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Contact us

For more information please get in touch:

clerks@9brchambers.co.uk

Phone Number - 020 7489 2727

Out of Hours Number - 079 7115 3192

Jennifer is a calm, focused and meticulous advocate. She is developing a busy criminal practice and is regularly instructed to appear in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts. Her experience encompasses both prosecution and defence work. She is also instructed in regulatory proceedings.

Jennifer predominantly specialises in criminal matters. She has been instructed in cases across the spectrum, including serious violence, sexual offences, drugs offences and driving offences.

Jennifer is a capable barrister who establishes a good rapport with her clients. She has experience of dealing with vulnerable defendants, particularly those suffering with mental health issues.

Background and experience

Jennifer joined Chambers in April 2024 having successfully completed her 18-month pupillage with 9BR. During pupillage, she was supervised by Max Hardy, Ruth Becker, Jessica Clarke and Graeme Logan. Jennifer assisted with the prosecution and defence of cases involving murder, rape and serious sexual offences, violence, drugs, firearms and driving offences.

Prior to pupillage, Jennifer gained several years’ experience as a paralegal in criminal and regulatory law firms. She assisted in the prosecution and defence of several high value and complex frauds covering substantial periods of time.

As a paralegal, Jennifer specialised in regulatory enforcement and professional discipline matters. She assisted with all aspects, including registration and fitness to practice proceedings. Jennifer successfully made written representations against notices to vary or cancel registration. These cases often involved breaches of professional standards including allegations of misconduct and/or dishonesty.

Jennifer also has experience as an advocate, having successfully represented numerous claimants in breach of contract claims in the civil court.

Specialisms

Notable Cases

Driving

R v FD, 2024

FD pleaded guilty to speeding, which left her at risk of disqualification under the totting up provisions. Jennifer successfully argued that exceptional hardship applied because FD would lose her job. As a result, she could not continue to pay for the house that she lived in with her partner and she would no longer be able to pay for her father’s care home fees. The court accepted Jennifer’s submissions and did not disqualify FD from driving.

Romford Magistrates Court

R v JH, 2023

JH pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, speeding and possession of Class A and B drugs. The offending involved a high speed police pursuit through a busy residential area where a group of school children were present. The case law suggested an immediate custodial sentence should be imposed. Jennifer distinguished case law and successfully argued for a suspended sentence and 12 month disqualification.

Kingston Crown Court

Driving

General Crime

R v MM, 2023

Jennifer successfully argued for the imposition of a community order for MM, who had pleaded guilty to ten offences and had a lengthy history of previous convictions. Jennifer argued the offending was intrinsically linked to mental health issues and supporting reports were obtained from probation and the court mental health teams. As a result, the court imposed a community order with a mental health treatment requirement

Westminster Magistrates Court

R v JH, 2023

JH was charged with owning a dog which was dangerously out of control and had caused injuries to an adult and a child. The Crown sought destruction of the dog, who had been a family pet for eight years without any previous issues. Jennifer successfully argued that a financial penalty should be imposed and there should be a contingent destruction order with conditions instead of destroying the dog.

Willesden Magistrates Court

Crime

Public Order

R v LN, 2024

LN pleaded guilty to affray. The offending involved a pub brawl ending with LN assaulting another member of public. Jennifer utilised case law and persuasively argued that LN should be given a community order, rather than a custodial sentence. The Judge agreed with Jennifer’s submissions and a community order with unpaid work was imposed.

Reading Crown Court

R v MJ, 2023

MJ was charged with an allegation of a racially aggravated public order offence in the context of a neighbour dispute. Jennifer’s cross-examination highlighted the inconsistencies in the complainant’s account. At the conclusion of the trial, the Court returned a not guilty verdict.

Croydon Magistrates Court

Public Order

Rape and Sexual Offences

R v GP, 2024

GP was charged on indictment with sexual assault of a child under 13. The Crown alleged that GP had groomed his young cousin by buying her expensive gifts, play fighting and playing music together. It was alleged that GP, disinhibited by alcohol, took an opportunistic moment to assault the child.

Jennifer Morris made written and oral arguments to adduce the child’s previous allegation of sexual assault against another person as evidence of untruthfulness. Following a 7 day trial at Inner London Crown Court, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Inner London Crown Court

Rape and Sexual Offences

Violence

R v TH, 2023

TH was charged with assault occasioning ABH and common assault by beating as an alternative. Jennifer cross-examined the complainant under a section 38 order in line with instructions that TH was acting in self-defence. As a result of Jennifer’s questions, the complainant accepted that she hit TH in the face with her knuckles. The Court returned not guilty verdicts on both charges.

City of London Magistrates Court

R v FN, 2023

FN was charged with assault by beating. Jennifer successfully argued a half-time submission of no case to answer on the basis that the Prosecution had failed to establish the elements of the offence. Jennifer argued the evidence was of such a tenuous nature that a court could not properly convict. The court dismissed the charge.

Stratford Magistrates Court

R v JSC, 2023

JSC pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer and possession of prohibited items and controlled drugs whilst in custody. Jennifer utilised the PSI prison guidelines on parole board sentencing to convince the court to impose a sentence which would have been available at the time of the offending had the Crown not delayed in a charging decision. As a result of Jennifer’s submissions, the court imposed a suspended sentence.

Medway Magistrates Court

R v LB, 2023

LB pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating and an assault of an emergency worker. Jennifer negotiated a basis of plea that her client didn’t kick the police officer as alleged and successfully argued a financial penalty was to be imposed.

Staines Magistrates Court

Violence

Youths

R v RA, 2024

RA, a youth, pleaded guilty to three separate charges of possessing an offensive weapon. He faced a mandatory minimum sentence as he had a relevant previous conviction. A 12 month DTO was imposed leaving him at risk of deportation. Jennifer successfully appealed against sentence and persuasively mitigated for RA. The court accepted Jennifer’s submissions and a YRO with ISS was imposed.

Snaresbrook Crown Court

R v NN, 2023

NN, a vulnerable youth, was charged with of possession of an offensive weapon. A NRM positive conclusive grounds decision had found that NN was a victim of exploitation, but the Crown decided to proceed to trial. Jennifer drafted lengthy admissions about potential exploitation concern and questioned NN about the threats establishing a nexus with the offending. She made submissions that another individual with his vulnerabilities would have reacted in the same way. NN was acquitted.

Bromley Youth Court

Youths