Garden Court North Chambers, Garden Court Chambers, One Pump Court Chambers and Nexus Chambers join together to host an event expressing concern and solidarity for Rajiv Menon KC, who faces prosecution for contempt of court for the contents of a closing speech.

The alleged contempt concerns the closing speech that Rajiv delivered to a jury at the Woolwich Crown Court in January 2026, when he was defending pro-Palestine activists charged with criminal damage during direct action taken at a factory in Filton, Bristol, belonging to Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer.

No lawyer in British legal history has ever been prosecuted for contempt for the contents of a closing speech. This case risks creating a chilling effect, especially in politically sensitive or high-profile cases, which will result in self-censorship, weakened defence representation, and a diminished right to a fair trial.

Garden Court North's Pete Weatherby KC chaired the event, joined by luminaries from across the human rights world: Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Lord John Hendy KC, Riel Karmy-Jones KC (Chair of the Criminal Bar Association), Gareth Peirce, Michael Mansfield KC, Akiko Hart (Director of LIBERTY), Raju Bhatt, Marcia Willis Stewart KC, Keir Monteith KC, Jane Deighton, Henry Blaxland KC, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, Deborah Coles (INQUEST), Matt Foot (APPEAL), Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth) and Sarah-Jane Ewart. There were also messages of support from Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, Ed Fitzgerald KC and Kirsty Brimelow KC (Chair of the Bar Council).

The event was sponsored by Bindmans LLP, Bhatt Murphy, Birnberg Peirce, Deighton Pierce Glynn, ITN Solicitors, Kellys Solicitors, Hodge Jones Allen and Robert Lizars Solicitors.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham are expected to speak in the House of Commons during a debate on the Hillsborough Law.

As bereaved families from the Hillsborough disaster and Manchester Arena bombing meet with the Prime Minister, Garden Court North's Pete Weatherby KC spoke to BBC Breakfast about the proposed amendment to include security services in Hillsborough Law's Duty of Candour.

Pete, who co-wrote the Bill and is Director of Hillsborough Law Now, called on the Government to "stand up and put this right" by adopting Ian Byrne MP's amendment to include the security services in the Bill. Pete points to MI5's "unconscionable" behaviour in misleading the Manchester Arena Inquiry about intelligence it had on the attacker.

Pete appeared alongside Caroline Curry and Lisa Rutherford, who lost their son and daughter in the Manchester Arena bombing.

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