Insulate Britain supporters protesting in London last month. Photo Credit: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

EnvironmentSociety United Kingdom17. April 2023

“Declaration of Conscience”: Lawyers Sign to Support Peaceful Protesters in Their Fossil Fuel Fight

Top lawyers in the United Kingdom have defied the bar in a vow to not prosecute peaceful climate protesters nor support new fossil fuel projects, putting the very future of our planet before one of their profession’s golden rules.

Since civil law should prevent the loss of human life and property but does not, lawyers have taken upon them to “withhold [their] services in respect of supporting new fossil fuel projects and action against climate protesters exercising their right of peaceful protest.”

A total of 18 attorneys, including six king’s counsel, signed the declaration. They are among the 120 lawyers all over the world, mainly English, who have defied bar rules. They will therefore self-refer to the Bar Standards Board for breaking the profession’s “cab rank” rule where lawyers are under the obligation of taking a case they are qualified for, provided they are available to do so. The declaration calls on legal professionals “to act urgently to do whatever they can to address the causes and consequences of the climate and ecological crises and to advance a just transition”.

Source:
The Guardian

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