Trudi Warner was accused of contempt for holding placard reminding jurors of right to acquit based on conscience
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    8 months ago

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    A high court judge has thrown out an attempt by the government’s most senior law officer to prosecute a woman for holding a placard on jury rights outside a climate trial.

    Mr Justice Saini said there was no basis for a prosecution of Trudi Warner, 69, for criminal contempt for holding a placard outside the trial of climate activists that informed jurors of their right to acquit a defendant based on their conscience.

    The judge accused government lawyers of “mischaracterising” the evidence when they said Warner had acted in an intimidating and abusive manner, confronting potential jurors outside the court and following them, in a deliberate attempt to interfere with the administration of justice.

    He challenged the solicitor general’s allegation that Warner had confronted, instructed, encouraged or incited potential jurors to ignore the judge’s directions when they came to their verdict.

    Saini said Warner had not harassed, impeded or even spoken to any of those entering inner London crown court last year, and criticised the government lawyers.

    Aidan Eardley KC told the court a prosecution was needed “to maintain public confidence” in the independence of the jury system and that if Warner went unpunished, similar acts were “likely to propagate”.

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