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KingRobotPrince t1_jaz15ja wrote

Reply to comment by Hot-Ad-6967 in Insulate Britain protesters jailed for seven weeks for mentioning climate change in defence by Mighty_L_LORT

>You are correct. I did not suggest that they should be let off. The judge is preventing them from explaining their motivations in court.

But he is doing that because he believes that the defendants will use their motivation to influence the jury to let them off. (Which appears to be what happened.)

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Hot-Ad-6967 t1_jaz5f89 wrote

The jury probably already knew this. In this case, climate change is well known, and there are a number of climate change protests going on, so this is not a rocket science for the jury to determine why this is happening. From the jury's perspective, the judge prevents them from explaining their motivations and are afraid of the grim reality. Is that influencing the jury in any way?

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KingRobotPrince t1_jazaalj wrote

Sure, they obviously know what is going on, but the court doesn't want the defendants putting on a lecture on how bad climate change is and how we need to act now or they had no choice but to do what they did.

There is no "not guilty based on climate change". And nor should there be.

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Hot-Ad-6967 t1_jazbe14 wrote

The judge is personality martyring them and may cause other people to follow them.

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KingRobotPrince t1_jazgwgr wrote

I don't think so. He's punishing them for not following his directions.

If it becomes a trend for these kinds of protesters to lecture in the courtroom to try and sway the jury, there are going to be consequences.

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Hot-Ad-6967 t1_jazhke0 wrote

Yes, the followers will want to emulate them. They want that to happen, and the judge is providing them with what they desire. It is a dangerous political tactic.

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