Contempt prosecution of Rajiv Menon KC criticised as 'chilling' for lawyers

Pete Weatherby KC opens the event on "Descent Into Authoritarianism?: The Rajiv Menon KC Case". He describes the "wholly unprecedented" and "extraordinary" first-ever criminal trial against a barrister for his closing speech to a jury.

HELP GET TO 15,000 📝 Rajiv Menon KC is facing contempt prosecution for referencing jurors rights. If the independence of juries can’t be mentioned in court without risking prison, every defendant's ability to receive a fearless defence is put at risk. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

2 women told a court how they felt compelled to join the Palestine Action protest group after watching “a live-streamed genocide” After seeing “mothers scrape up tiny pieces of their children” and watching “a stray dog with a toddler’s arm in its mouth” www.declassifieduk.org/a-stray-dog-...

🚨 WTAF??? 🔽 As we've said before, the climate of creeping authoritarianism under this Labour govt is reason enough, all on its own, not to vote for them again... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

"CBA* chair says contempt charge over closing speech by Rajiv Menon KC has left lawyers fearful of doing their job." *Criminal Bar Association www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

An appalling attack on justice in the UK by an authoritarian war criminal government.

Palestine Action trial lawyer’s prosecution criticised as ‘chilling’ for profession www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

With Burnham's Labour government publicly announcing that its highest priority is to increase military spending, it seems appropriate that they're now prosecuting lawyers for representing people prosecuted for opposing genocide... www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

The lawyer for one of the Palestine Action members is now facing criminal charges. Why? He suggested to the jury that the court may have been impartial. Imagine how delicately he must’ve phrased this, if he said it at all, in a bewigged institution.

novaramedia.com/2026/07/20/w... Cruel and unjust punishment. Must hope against hope that new government reverses tack on this clampdown on protest especially by pro Palestinian supporters

When Government persecutes lawyers, the road becomes a slipway into the abyss of authoritarianism. Regardless of the issues at trial.

This prosecution of a leading KC for representing the interests of his client in a closing speech which was not interrupted by the trial judge happened under a Labour government led by a former human rights lawyer. Gareth Pierce is right to call it "terrifying". www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Let the stupid crimes go like the unjust Palestine Action over sentencing and all those with strong appeals with the CRC. Keep the rapists behind bars. #c4news

Oh, he sacked Slimy Lammy? I'm into that. 😂 'Andy Burnham says there are no plans to scrap jury trials after sacking David Lammy' 'Now de-proscribe Palestine Action.' - @zarahsultana.bsky.social x.com/zarahsultana...

So when a friend of mine sat down with a bunch of vicars and OAPs with a sign saying “I support Palestine action”, your position is that it was completely reasonable to lock them up immediately and then bring them up on terrorism charges?