Defend Our Juries

Defend Our Juries is a UK-based activist group formed in 2020 by, among others, former government lawyer Tim Crosland (following his contempt of court case regarding Heathrow expansion).^[1]  It exists to highlight what it sees as the undermining of the UK legal process with regard to the right for individuals to act on their conscience.^[2] It has, in particular, supported the actions of those protesting in the Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain campaigns and those protesting against the proscription of Palestine Action.

Just Stop Oil

Defend Our Juries protesters have made a number of protests in support of Just Stop Oil activists on trial or in jail. In July 2024, following sentencing of five Just Stop Oil activists after their convictions at Southwark Crown Court to up to five years in prison, a demonstration was held in Worcester.^[3] In September, jail sentences for two activists were protested by Defend Our Juries and other groups with a 'silent exhibition of political prisoners past and present'.^[4] In October 2024, Defend Our Juries protesters marched through Cambridge.^[5] In January 2025, a group blocked a road with a sit-in outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, in support of an appeal case on behalf of 16 jailed Just Stop Oil activists, who they described as the 'Walney 16'.^[6][7] inspired at least in part by retired social worker, Trudi Warner, whose peaceful, non-violent action on 27 March 2023, holding a placard with the words: 'Jurors you have the absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience' resulted in her arrest.^[8] A further protest was held outside the Royal Courts of Justice in March 2025.^[9]

Insulate Britain

Defend Our Juries protesters have also protested in support of the Insulate Britain campaign. Since 27 March 2023, when an activist was arrested for silently holding up a hand-written sign near Inner London Crown Court in Southwark where Insulate Britain activists were on trial,^[10][11] a number of demonstrations have drawn attention to the rights and duties both of defendants in court and of jurors, in particular highlighting the principle of jury equity, as inscribed on a stone in the Old Bailey.^[12][13]

Lift the Ban

Defend Our Juries have coordinated a number of protests against the proscription of Palestine Action, as the campaign Lift the Ban. These included protests in London on 5 July,^[14] in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Derry on 12 July,^[15][16] on 19 July in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro,^[17] Cambridge,^[18] and in London on 9 August.^{[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]} Further days of protest action took place on 6 September, with more than 850 arrests taking place and 4 October with 488 arrests.^[26][27] During July, August, September and October 2025, British police arrested over 2,000 individuals for showing support to Palestine Action,^[28] many of these at events organised by Defend Our Juries.^[29] The Metropolitan Police stated that peaceful demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause could be lawful, but in line with the government's proscription an illegal show of support for Palestine Action may result in arrest – with, potentially, significant personal consequences to those convicted of support for what is now considered to be terrorist group.^[30]