Ye scurvy UK activist be walkin' free fer tellin' jurors to follow their hearts, no crime seen here, matey!
2024-04-22
Arrr mateys, the judge hath spoken and declared that Trudi Warner be free from the clutches of contempt of court! Ye can still be a swashbucklin' juror and remember to acquit them scurvy defendants, no matter what the scallywags be sayin'! Aye, justice be served!
A climate protester who could have faced up to two years in prison for holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants cannot be charged with contempt of court, a London judge ruled Monday. Trudi Warner had been arrested last March and accused of "deliberately targeting" jurors before a trial of climate activists from the group Insulate Britain. She held a sign in front of Inner London Crown Court that said: "Jurors you have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience." High Court Justice Pushpinder Saini said her act was not a crime because jurors can reach a verdict based on their conscience and Warner had not interfered with jurors.The ruling comes as hundreds of environmental activists have been arrested for peaceful demonstrations in Europe and the U.K., where tough new laws restrict the right to protest. While the Conservative British government says the laws prevent extremist activists from hurting the economy and disrupting daily life, critics say civil rights are being eroded without enough scrutiny from lawmakers or protection by the courts. Warner welcomed the ruling, noting it came on Earth Day, and said she was relieved. "When you see a letter that says government department versus Trudi Warner, and when you have an indictment which is 133 pages, it’s intimidating," she said.