In 2019 six members of Extinction Rebellion were found not guilty of obstructing trains because, according to their lawyer, "The defendants’ motives chimed with the concerns of 12 citizens representative of the wider public."

Since then, Judge Silas Reid has instructed climate defendants not to mention climate change in their defence and instructed jurors that they must not consider the defendant’s beliefs because it is not relevant to the question of guilt or innocence. 

This instruction is being challenged in the court of appeal but in the meantime, defendants who mention their motivations for protesting - even if they are found not guilty by the jury - are being given custodial sentences by the judge for contempt of court.

This creeping restriction on our right of protest reached a new low in April when Trudi Warner was ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on a charge of "attempting to influence the jury", for standing outside an Insulate Britain trial holding a placard saying: "Jurors: You have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience". 

The right of jurors to arrive at decisions independently according to their convictions without fear of punishment was established in 1670 and is a cornerstone of our justice system. Ironically, there is even a plaque affirming this on the original doorway to the Old Bailey.

Today, 40 other people who have also stood outside courts holding placards reminding jurors of this right have written to the solicitor general, Michael Tomlinson, challenging him to also charge them if he goes through with charging Ms Warner with contempt of court or attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Whether or not you believe our leaders are doing enough to combat climate change, combating climate change is the issue of our age and undermining centuries-old rights to protest is both sinister and counterproductive.

So I would like to add my name to the 40 names on that letter to the solicitor general. Unfortunately, I haven't held up any placards reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants according to their conscience, but if that is what I need to do to add my light to the sum of light, I pledge to do so.

Please think carefully before supporting this petition. Holding up a placard outside a courthouse can land you in gaol .