Campaigners join Wolverhampton silent courts protest over the rights of juries
Campaigners took part in a protest outside Wolverhampton Crown Court as part of a nationwide bid to "defend our juries".
The Wolverhampton protest took place alongside a handful of others outside courts around the country on Monday.
The group, Defend Our Juries, say the protest is about the centuries-old right of all jurors in British courtrooms to acquit a defendant according to their conscience and irrespective of the directions of the judge.
Signs held up by protesters included 'Dogs decide a case according to the will of the pack' and 'The right of jurors to give their verdict according to their convictions'.
A spokesperson from the campaign said the demonstration was being held in solidarity with those who are facing criminal investigations for similar protests.
A statement from the group read: "After a succession of acquittals by jury, including the acquittal of the Colston 4 in January 2022, appeared to embarrass the government and certain corporate interests, Suella Braverman introduced plans to reduce the influence of jury trials.
"In the case of the Colston 4, she decided that the Bristol jury had got it wrong, and brought a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal.
“Measures being taken by courts now include banning defendants from explaining to the jury why they did what they did – and holding anyone who disobeys in contempt of court.
"In recent months, some people have been sent to prison for simply trying to explain their actions, for example by using the words ‘climate change’ and ‘fuel poverty’ in court."
Kris Welch, 70, a retired teacher and special educational needs coordinator from Broseley, said: “I am here at Wolverhampton Crown Court because of a growing trend in many courts to silence defendants from telling their whole truth and preventing juries from delivering verdicts they consider to be right.
"As a society, we value the right to be tried by twelve of our peers and we trust in their judgement when they know the whole truth. That right of juries to reach their own verdict, rather than rubber-stamping the wishes of a judge, has been enshrined in our law since 1670.
"It is a vital safe guard against the abuse of power, and I don’t want to see it lost to our society for political ends."
Jamie Russell, 49, a children's author from Shrewsbury, said: "The right for a jury to decide a case according to its conscience is a fundamental right in British common law. As a child, I was taught this in school.
"If we lose this right, we will slide towards unchecked authoritarianism as juries are reduced to nothing more than puppets of the state. I do not want that to happen, which is why I am peacefully and silently standing outside the court today with a sign that uses the same words as the plaque in the Old Bailey.
"Jurors in all cases must be free to deliver their verdicts without interference."