On 21 February, over 100 people, including 4 from Sheffield, gathered within the central hall at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), London, to hold a series of peaceful People’s Assemblies or ‘Citizens Juries’, in what is being described as ‘a makeover’ of British Justice. The Assembly was prompted by the Attorney General’s application, being heard in court on the same day, to stop juries acquitting people from taking direct action both against climate change and for peace in Gaza.
But the Assembly also included consideration of the wider legal landscape, including the Post Office scandal, the lack of legal accountability for the bosses of the banks responsible for the financial crisis of 2008, the bosses of the oil and water companies that have caused so much destruction to our land, air and waters, and for the Ministers responsible for violations of international agreements, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Refugee Convention and UN rulings on Gaza.
Jenni Crisp, from Sheffield Defend our Juries, was eventually removed from the Court building. She said
“The courts belong to the public, not the big corporations. That’s why we held this peaceful assembly in the Royal Courts of Justice in defence of the rule of law, trial by jury and our democracy and in the light of the state of repression in Britain right now, which the UN has recently described as ‘terrifying’, We were not out to cause disruption. We were peacefully exercising our democratic right to freedom of assembly to address the crisis in our justice system.”
Assembly reflects three momentous cases heard simultaneously at the Royal Courts of Justice
The three themes of the assembly reflect the three cases of far-reaching significance which were being heard simultaneously at the Royal Courts of Justice: the final appeal of Julian Assange against extradition to the US; the legal challenge to the government’s “net zero strategy” brought by the Good Law Project and Friends of the Earth; and the Attorney General’s attempt to remove the last remaining legal defence currently left open to people taking direct action for the environment and for peace.
At 11:11 hrs, in remembrance of the democratic freedoms our grandparents fought for, over 100 citizens quietly convened in the central hall of the RCJ. Those attending the People’s Assembly gathered wearing T-shirts that read “The People v. The Corporate State”. A Banner saying, “Welcome to the People’s Assembly” was unfurled within the central hall. In an expression of authentic justice and democracy, these members of the public held three people’s assemblies, providing a space to discuss the issues arising from the court hearings. People’s Assemblies are used successfully by local authorities, governments and communities to present issues of public relevance and gain agreement on actions or decisions needed. On Sunday, it was announced that the Labour Party likewise plans to introduce Citizens Assemblies.
Those attending formed three Citizens Juries to consider the following questions:
1) When did it become a crime to tell the truth?
2) Why not trust juries to hear the full story?
3) Does the British Government respect International Law?
The People’s Assembly at the Royal Courts of Justice was entirely lawful and peaceful and did not disrupt the running of the court. Nonetheless, if court security or police had attempted to forcibly break up the assembly, many of those involved were willing to risk arrest.
Byline Times Article https://bylinetimes.com/2024/02/22/surprise-peoples-assembly-comes-to-court-as-climate-protestors-last-legal-defence-may-be-removed/
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