Lawyer defeats contempt charge for defending Palestine Action clients

Barrister Rajiv Menon has defeated a judge’s attempt to prosecute him for doing his job of defending Palestine Action activists.

Menon was charged with contempt of court for reminding jurors in his closing speech of their legal right to acquit according to conscience. Mr Justice Johnson had ordered this information to be withheld.

In 2024, Judge Saini threw out an attempt to imprison a pensioner for holding up a sign reminding jurors of this ‘jury equity’ right during a different trial. He derided the idea that informing someone of the law could possibly be contempt of court.

However, this has not stopped the Starmer regime and “rogue judges” from continuing to treat the law as an inconvenience to be prevented and prosecuted.

The appeal court’s ruling this morning is a slap to the Starmer regime and its war on our rights to protect Israel.

Defend our Juries has summarised the Menon case, its outcome and its significance on X.

If a jury decides that the person who stands accused of a crime made the morally correct choice in their actions, the jury can find them “not-guilty”, even if the evidence shows that they did carry out the actions they are on trial for

This has been a legal principle since 1670. pic.twitter.com/TlqD6tBoNC

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) May 12, 2026

The court of appeal ruled today that Mr Justice Johnson had no jurisdiction to refer Rajiv Menon KC directly to the High Court. This was unlawful.

It is no coincidence that this attempt to silence a barrister is connected to activists who disrupted Israel’s genocidal war crimes. pic.twitter.com/oxJWDkwmH0

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) May 12, 2026

Rogue judges are attempting to remove any mention of this principle to jurors, blocking their lawful rights.

Labour is attempting to heavily restrict jury trials, preventing access to fair justice.

The attack on juries is an attack on everyone.

Join us: https://t.co/cE6tKTcXBg pic.twitter.com/9hBzv23PJy

— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) May 12, 2026

The regime suffered another blow this week with the refusal of a jury to convict anti-genocide activist Majid Freeman. The government has ordered a retrial and is likely to attempt the same tactic of banning mention of jury equity, despite the clear legal precedent.

The Starmer regime is a police state and a rogue one.

Featured image via Garden Court Chambers