Senior lawyers and legal figures in the UK have warned that the prosecution for contempt of court of a leading human rights barrister who represented Palestine Action activists is having a chilling effect across the bar.
Rajiv Menon KC is alleged to have breached the judge’s directions in a closing speech he delivered in January at the conclusion of the first trial of six Palestine Action defendants accused of causing criminal damage to weapons at an Israeli arms factory outside Bristol.
Menon is alleged, in particular, to have breached the judge’s directions by reminding the jury of their right to acquit on conscience – something the trial judge, Mr Justice Johnson, had barred the defence from alluding to.
On Wednesday evening, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, told an online meeting of senior legal figures in support of Menon that his case is already impacting the work of lawyers, who she said are “changing their speeches or being told to change them”.
“And that really can’t be ignored, because people at the criminal bar have become uncertain and scared of what they can and can’t say, scared that somehow they might be, at the end of a trial where they have faithfully represented their client themselves, facing a charge of criminal contempt,” Karmy-Jones said.