PROTESTERS have again been seen outside a city court holding placards.
Several protesters were outside Worcester Crown Court this morning (Monday) for the latest Defend our Juries protests.
The group said 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 judge's directions.
Thirteen people were outside the court on Foregate Street at 10am, which is when most cases are typically heard in court.
One of the protestors, who would only give his name as 'Hugh' and is a retired doctor from Malvern, said: "Many of us UK citizens believe our government is making decisions which put our long-term futures at serious risk by ignoring the urgency of climate science.
"Furthermore, it is going against its own historic laws by threatening to imprison anyone making such points of principle to a jury."
Previously, former Supreme Court Judge Lord Sumption had criticised juries for acquitting people who were "plainly guilty in political cases simply because they sympathise with them," saying it undermined the rule of law.
Another protester said: "This witness is not about the rights and wrongs of any particular climate action protest.
"But it is about defendants' right to state their motivations, which is a fundamental part of our legal system. That’s why I’m here today.”
There was a similar protest outside Worcester Crown Court in September and December 2023.
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has been approached for a comment.
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