Tommy Robinson had a hearing today in London, and the judge decided to refer his case to the Attorney General rather than handle it himself - a victory for the good guys.
@CassandraRules, @ezralevant, @AndrewLawton, @JamesDelingpole, and others have done great work.
#FreeTommy
@CassandraRules, @ezralevant, @AndrewLawton, @JamesDelingpole, and others have done great work.
#FreeTommy
Delingpole's @BreitbartLondon article does a good job laying out the details of what happened.
The key point: The judge *could* have adjudicated Tommy's contempt of court charge, and tossed him back in jail.
He didn't.
Why not?
breitbart.com/europe/2018/10…
The key point: The judge *could* have adjudicated Tommy's contempt of court charge, and tossed him back in jail.
He didn't.
Why not?
breitbart.com/europe/2018/10…
One part of it is certainly the excellent witness statement put together by Tommy and his team. It contests a number of key facts, and details the underlying injustice of the entire process. @AndrewLawton posted it in full.
#FreeTommy
andrewlawton.ca/planned-contem…
#FreeTommy
andrewlawton.ca/planned-contem…
Another part is this: the British procedure for handling contempt of court is still fundamentally unjust.
Judges have the power to throw people in jail for up to two years without a jury trial - for the ostensible purpose of protecting the fairness of jury trials.
#FreeTommy
Judges have the power to throw people in jail for up to two years without a jury trial - for the ostensible purpose of protecting the fairness of jury trials.
#FreeTommy
In America, that would be unconstitutional. Jury trials are required for any charge with a maximum sentence greater than six months.
I discussed this in depth in a thread back in August.
#FreeTommy
I discussed this in depth in a thread back in August.
#FreeTommy
So, the judge had the power to proceed, but didn't.
Why not?
Maybe it had something to do with the 2500 people outside. And the fundamental injustice of the procedure.
That's the thing about courts: they care about their legitimacy.
And this procedure *feels* illegitimate.
Why not?
Maybe it had something to do with the 2500 people outside. And the fundamental injustice of the procedure.
That's the thing about courts: they care about their legitimacy.
And this procedure *feels* illegitimate.
The judge in Leeds tossed Tommy into jail for 12 months, when there were no cameras on him and no protestors outside.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
And with the spotlight on him, this judge declined to exercise the draconian power UK law granted him.
#FreeTommy
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
And with the spotlight on him, this judge declined to exercise the draconian power UK law granted him.
#FreeTommy
Which suggests - perhaps UK contempt of court law is archaic and draconian?
I was mocked for this critique when I made it this summer by UK barristers and journalists.
Maybe it's time to revisit that critique, folks. Sunlight won't be present in every case.
FIN.
#FreeTommy
I was mocked for this critique when I made it this summer by UK barristers and journalists.
Maybe it's time to revisit that critique, folks. Sunlight won't be present in every case.
FIN.
#FreeTommy
