Social worker faces prison defending jurors' right to follow conscience in court cases
![Court](/sites/default/files/styles/3_2_s/public/2023-12/Courts.jpg?h=44b879e5&itok=MrJ54QsR)
A retired social worker is facing imprisonment for telling jurors they have a right to acquit climate protesters based on their conscience.
Trudi Warner is among campaigners who have protested outside courts including the Old Bailey carrying placards highlighting the need to protect what they point out is a centuries-old principle of English law.
In September, the Solicitor General announced the 68-year-old is to be prosecuted for contempt of court – the only protestor so far to be facing this.
A campaign was launched urging supporters to write to the Solicitor General in defence of Warner, who left social work to be a full-time climate change activist.
Speaking to Professional Social Work magazine, Trudi said: "I took this action because climate protesters were being told by judges that they could not tell jurors the reasons for their actions.
"I was quite literally upholding the law, and acting in accordance with the social work values which now underpin my climate campaigning.
"Protesters concerned about climate breakdown are now facing restrictions on their rights to protest at a time when their message is urgent and important. Some young people are in prison for engaging in non-violent civil resistance, whilst others are being criminalised.
"This is happening against a background of climate-related events which are already causing devastation and mass loss of life across the world."
Warner urged other social workers who share her concerns over erosion of rights and climate change to join the Defend our Juries campaign and the Just Stop Oil movement.
If found guilty of the contempt of court charge, Warner faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail.
The letter sent to the Solicitor General by supporters of Warner says: “If you don’t believe in free speech and democracy, you should prosecute us too.”
It goes on: “A jury’s absolute right to acquit is all the more important when an alleged ‘crime’ relates to political direct action to expose government dishonesty and corporate greed because ultimately judges are paid by the state.
“Intimidating those who communicate the principle of jury equity reveals a distrust for juries, which is indicative of a distrust of the people of this country.”
Earlier this month, 600 people took part in a one-day protest outside Crown Courts across England and Wales to uphold the principle of jury equity.
Behind the protest is a belief that jurors should not be forced to act against their conscience when directed by judges. The 'right to acquit' based on conscience is being evoked specifically by campaigners in relation to the prosecution of climate protestors for breaking the law.
Climate activist such as Just Stop Oil have brought traffic to a standstill in major cities and on motorways with roadblocks throughout the year.
They argue their direct non-violent action is justified in the face of the far greater threat of climate change and the catastrophic impact it will have on the planet.