A group of people held a protest outside court to defend the rights of juries to make a decision contrary to that of a judge during climate trials.

Extinction Rebellion Highgate descended on Wood Green Crown Court on Monday (April 15) as part of a Defend Our Juries campaign.

Between April 13 and April 21 hundreds of people are gathering outside every crown court across England and Wales in a bid to uphold the principle of jury equity, that is, the capacity of a jury to acquit a defendant as a matter of conscience even if a judge directs that there is no defence.

Sitting in a line on a wall outside the court, campaigners held placards in solidarity with Trudi Warner, a 69-year-old woman who was arrested in March 2023 for allegedly doing the same thing outside the Old Bailey.

Ham & High: Campaigners are protesting outside crown courts across the countryCampaigners are protesting outside crown courts across the country (Image: Sabrina Merolla)

​XR Highgate campaigner Sarah Montgomery said Trudi's alleged actions were "simply upholding the law, not breaking the law".

"This campaign has sparked such interest from ordinary people like me across England and Wales. There will be people sitting outside crown courts every day this week, hundreds of us.

"All we are really saying is: we are Trudi Warner, prosecute us."

Ham & High: Dare to be arrested? Campaigners for jurors' rights hold placards outside Wood Green CourtDare to be arrested? Campaigners for jurors' rights hold placards outside Wood Green Court (Image: Sabrina Merolla)

In March 2023 Judge Silas Reid banned defendants in climate trials from explaining their motivations to the jury, and sent three people to prison just for using the words ‘climate change’ in court.

Retired social worker Trudi was charged with contempt of court after the Attorney General's office decided to prosecute her last year.

Her case is being heard at the Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow (April 18).

Ham & High: Hundreds of people are holding placards outside courts in support of Trudi WarnerHundreds of people are holding placards outside courts in support of Trudi Warner (Image: Sabrina Merolla)

Jane Leggett, who attended the demonstration, said: "It’s so important that the legal system does not stop jurors from making the decision they think is right when they have all the information.

"At times like these, it is more important than ever that rights which have been enshrined in law for hundreds of years are not abandoned.

"We are here because of what's happening to our democracy."