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On Thursday 9 November, the eminent legal scholar, Professor John Spencer CBE, wrote an opinion piece for the Times, offering more invaluable support for the Defend Our Juries campaign: “Defying a judge is not always contempt of court – Jury equity could be seen as an important constitutional safeguard”
He argues that on a proper interpretation of the law, courts should giv[e] protesters some chance to explain the reasons for their actions” and not punish “those who try to make the jury aware of [the principle of jury equity]”.
He concludes by quoting E.P. Thompson in a stinging rebuke to those undermining trial by jury: “There are worse offences to the body politic than contempt of court; and these are contempt for our constitutional history and contempt for the people of this country.”
Judge threatens Dr Gail Bradbrook with trial without jury
On 1 November 2023, Dr Gail Bradbrook, a co-founder of Extinction Rebellion, was found guilty of criminal damage after the Judge at Isleworth Crown Court:
- Banned her from explaining why she did what she did
- Threatened to move to trial without a jury
- Directed the jury that she had no defence
- Prohibited her from telling the jury they have an absolute right to acquit

- Protests outside courts in England after activist charged over jury rights sign (Guardian, 25 September 23)
- A climate of injustice (The Ecologist, 25 September 23)
- Campaigners Risk Prison by Standing Outside Courts Telling Jurors of ‘Right to Acquit’ (Byline Times, 25 September 23)
- More than 250 climate activists protest with signs to jurors outside courts (Evening Standard, 25 September 23)
- Protesters gathered outside Truro Crown Court to ‘defend our juries’ (CornwallLive, 25 September 23)
- Silent Protest In Bristol After Activist Charged Over Jury Rights Sign (Bristol 24/7, 25 September 23)
August – September 2023
- Quakers risk prison to defend vital legal precedent (Quakers In Britain, 21 September 23)
- Fears over right to protest after woman with sign at climate trial prosecuted (The Guardian, 19 September 23)
- Climate activist to be prosecuted for contempt over court protest (The Times, 18 September 23)
- Activist Who Held Sign Outside Court Informing Jurors of ‘Right to Acquit’ Insulate Britain Activists Could Face Two Years in Jail (Byline Times, 18 September 23)
- Meet the Shadowy Network Vilifying Climate Protestors (DeSmog, 12 September 23)
- Courts to Face Wave of Protests as Climate Campaigners Say Right to Jury Trial ‘Under Attack’ (Byline Times, 6 September 23)
- Big Oil Billions and The Real Cancel Culture Threatening Brits With Prison for Telling the Truth (Byline Times, 25 August 23)
- Prosecute all of us, climate protesters urge (The Times, 17 August 23)
- Charge us with contempt too, say 40 people, if climate activist prosecuted (Guardian, 17 August 23)
May – July 2023
- Contempt threat against climate activist may undermine trial by jury, lawyers say (Guardian, 26 July 23)
- The climate trials (The Ecologist, 20 June)
- Climate activists risk contempt charges over placards outside court (The Times, 2 June 23)
- Judges join lawyers in the bear pit (Law Society Gazette, 23 May 23)
- Climate activists call crown court judge ‘unprincipled bully’ during protest (Independent, 15 May 23)
February – April 2023
- Climate activist who allegedly held sign directed at jurors may be charged (Guardian, 4 April 23)
- Protesters must be allowed to explain motives in court (The Times, 13 March 23)
- Activists jailed for seven weeks for defying ban on mentioning climate crisis (Open Democracy, 3 March 23)
- Insulate Britain activist jailed for eight weeks for contempt of court (Guardian, 7 February 23)