Trudi Warner, a 63-year-old climate protester, has described her “joy” after a High Court judge ruled that the government had no contempt of court case against her. Warner had been arrested last March and accused of “deliberately targeting” jurors before a trial of members of the Insulate Britain group. 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 yesterday (22 April) that Warner’s act was not a crime because jurors can reach a verdict based on their conscience and she had not interfered with jurors. “It is fanciful to suggest that Ms. Warner’s behaviour falls into this category of contempt,” Saini said. “At no point did Ms. Warner assault, threaten, block, accost or impede anyone’s access to the court.” The ruling comes as hundreds of environmental activists have been arrested for peaceful demonstrations in the UK, 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 democratic freedoms are being eroded without enough scrutiny from lawmakers or protection by the courts. Hundreds of people followed Warner’s lead and held similar signs outside courthouses to protest what they said undermined the foundations of trial by jury. At least two dozen “Defend Our Juries” protesters have been interviewed by police, though so far no one other than Warner has been charged. 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.
Climate Activist’s Contempt of Court Charge Thrown Out
