LONDON– A climate protester who could have faced up to two years in prison for holding a sign outside a court 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 attacking” jurors before a trial against climate activists from the group Insulate Britain.
He held a sign outside Inner London Crown Court that read: “Juries, you have an absolute right to prosecute a defendant according to your conscience.”
Superior Court Judge Pushpinder Saini said his act was not a crime because jurors can reach a verdict based on their conscience and Warner had not interfered with jurors.
“It is fanciful to suggest that Ms. Warner’s behavior falls into this category of contempt,” Saini said. “At no time did Ms. Warner assault, threaten, block, harass or prevent anyone from accessing the court.”
The ruling comes as hundreds of environmental activists have been arrested for peaceful demonstrations in Europe and the United Kingdom, where strict new laws restrict the right to protest.
While Britain’s Conservative government says laws prevent extremist activists from damaging the economy and disrupting everyday life, critics say civil rights are being eroded without enough scrutiny by legislation or court protection.
Hundreds of people followed Warner’s lead and placed similar signs outside the courthouse to protest what they said undermined the foundations of jury trial. Police have questioned at least two dozen “Defend Our Juries” protesters, although none other than Warner has so far been charged.
Warner welcomed the ruling, noting that it came on Earth Day and saying she was relieved.
“When you see a letter that says government department versus Trudi Warner, and when you have a 133-page indictment, it’s intimidating,” he said.