MORE than 80 people held signs saying “juries deserve to hear the whole truth” outside Southwark Crown Court today in defiance of a judge who had arrested 11 for holding the same placards last week.

Last Tuesday, activists from Defend Our Juries staged a silent protest while a trial took place involving Just Stop Oil activists, who had been banned from talking about the impact of climate breakdown to jurors.

The protesters were arrested on suspicion of contempt of court following instructions from Judge Hehir.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said: “Today more than 80 people held the same sign outside court, and Judge Hehir left them alone.

“It’s hard to make sense of that unless Judge Hehir realises he got it wrong. In which case he should apologise to those he arrested.”

Judge Hehir ordered the arrests last week despite a High Court ruling that the criminalisation of such signs was disproportionate in a democratic society.

The ruling was made after court threw out an attempt to prosecute Trudi Warner, who was arrested last year after holding a sign outside court summarising the principle of jury equity.