UK climate activists fear case delays could cost them right to jury trial
Summary
Climate activists in the UK worry delays in their court cases may cause them to lose the right to a trial by jury. Proposed government rules would limit jury trials for certain offences, affecting ongoing protest cases related to climate actions.Key Facts
- Some climate protest cases from 2021 and later have been postponed multiple times.
- New rules may stop defendants from choosing jury trials in many cases and will start around 2028.
- Jury trials allow peers to decide guilt and can lead to more acquittals based on conscience.
- Activists say jury trials let them explain their climate-related reasons for protesting.
- The new rule applies even to cases already in the court system.
- Some defendants face trials for actions like slow marches or property damage during protests.
- Judges, unlike juries, may not consider protest motivations as much in decisions.
- The Ministry of Justice says most low-level protest cases are already heard in magistrates’ courts without juries.
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