British climate protester won't be charged for sign telling jurors to vote their conscience

LONDON (AP) — A climate protester who could have faced up to two years in prison for holding a sign outside a courthouse reminding jurors of their right to acquit defendants cannot be charged with contempt of court, a London judge ruled Monday.

Trudi Warner had been arrested last March and accused of “deliberately targeting” jurors before a trial of climate activists from the group Insulate Britain.

She held a sign in front of Inner London Crown Court that said: “Jurors you have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience.”

High Court Justice Pushpinder Saini said her act was not a crime because jurors can reach a verdict based on their conscience and Warner had not interfered with jurors.

“It is fanciful to suggest that Ms. Warner’s behavior falls into this category of contempt,” Saini said. “At no point did Ms. Warner assault, threaten, block, accost or impede anyone’s access to the court.”