No barrister in British legal history has ever faced contempt proceedings over the content of a closing speech. Rajiv Menon now faces up to two years in prison for words that barristers have recited in court for centuries.
The independence of juries has been recognised in law since the 1670 case of R v Penn & Mead, and is honoured on a plaque at the Old Bailey itself. Rajiv Menon KC referred to this while defending Charlotte Head, over the 2024 #PalestineAction Filton factory protest. Head was acquitted, but the judge accused Menon of contempt of court.
If the independence of juries can no longer be spoken of in court without risking prison, every defendant's ability to receive a fearless defence is put at risk. We are calling on David Lammy, Richard Hermer and Parmjit Kaur Cheema-Grubb to drop these proceedings and protect the rights of juries from interference by judges
Kindly sign and / or share this petition xxx
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-britain-s-juries?source=rawlink&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=rawlink&share=8e9c848b-020e-4238-a94a-64a8b9fa035c
The independence of juries has been recognised in law since the 1670 case of R v Penn & Mead, and is honoured on a plaque at the Old Bailey itself. Rajiv Menon KC referred to this while defending Charlotte Head, over the 2024 #PalestineAction Filton factory protest. Head was acquitted, but the judge accused Menon of contempt of court.
If the independence of juries can no longer be spoken of in court without risking prison, every defendant's ability to receive a fearless defence is put at risk. We are calling on David Lammy, Richard Hermer and Parmjit Kaur Cheema-Grubb to drop these proceedings and protect the rights of juries from interference by judges
Kindly sign and / or share this petition xxx
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-britain-s-juries?source=rawlink&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=rawlink&share=8e9c848b-020e-4238-a94a-64a8b9fa035c
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