A property manager from Gedling is running the risk of arrest by protesting outside a crown court over juries’ rights.
Amanda Pumo will be taking her place outside Nottingham Crown Court tomorrow (19) from 8.45am during a week of action by members of the Defend our Juries campaign.
They are part of the Defend Our Juries movement who are holding protests outside every single court in England and Wales.
This week was chosen because Trudi Warner, the first protester to hold a protest outside the Old Bailey will be in court facing a prison sentence for her action.
The signs held by local citizens – and by Trudi Warner – point out an ancient British law: the right of juries to reach their own conclusions based solely on the evidence presented, and independent of a judge’s directions.
This law was created in 1670 when jurors refused to convict Quaker activists of unlawful assembly, despite the judge sending them to jail for ignoring his directions. The jurors appealed, won, and this law has protected the independence of juries ever since.
In a trial this February Judge Reid spoke to the jury and said “It is only on the evidence you are able to try the case and not on conscience … It is a criminal offence for a juror to do anything from which it can be concluded that a decision will be made on anything other than the evidence.”
Amanda Pumo, 64, said “Juries are a common sense check on the law. They ensure that judges, law makers and governments can’t abuse their power and use British courtrooms to do their dirty work for them.
“I’m here to send a clear message to Judges that the public won’t stand for jurors being made a mockery of. Let our juries hear the whole truth and let them reach a fair and true verdict without judicial interference!”
Eve Cina, 68, a retired probation officer from West Bridgford said “Contrary to popular belief, juries aren’t bound to follow a judge’s directions. Instead, according to this established law, their job is to evaluate all the evidence they hear and make up their own minds depending on what they think is morally right.
“The right to a fair trial by a jury of one’s peers is a cornerstone of our legal system, and a safeguard against tyranny.”
