120 Woke Lawyers Accused of Undermining Legal System by Refusing to Prosecute Climate Activists

A group of around 120 leading lawyers in the UK have been criticised for declaring that they will not prosecute climate activists and will refuse to act on behalf of clients involved in oil and gas on the grounds that they are damaging the environment.

The group, which includes Jolyon Maugham KC and Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, will sign a ‘Declaration of Conscience’ pledging to refuse their services to protesters from eco-groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil.

The move has been criticised by senior members of the legal profession for undermining the convention that everyone is entitled to fair legal representation. Under English law, the cab rank rule requires a barrister to take a case within their expertise, provided they are free to do so, regardless of the cause.

The Bar Standards Board, which regulates barristers, describes the rule as an “essential safeguard of access to justice, the public interest, and the rule of law”.