Free Seminar – Crisis of Conscience? A defence of jury equity

The importance of juries to the legitimacy of the criminal justice system and the ability of juries to acquit ‘according to conscience’ have both been in the news recently. Government proposals to cut the right to trial by jury to a handful of cases will affect huge swathes of cases but will have a particular impact on protest cases, where hugely significant political issues often arise, where the issues and impact extend beyond the facts of the particular case and where it is often thought that the power of the jury to acquit ‘according to conscience’ is most important. The Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Webster [2026] EWCA Crim 9 has done little to explain or clarify the scope of jury equity.

Speakers:

Stephanie Harrison KC, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Stephanie Harrison KC is a leading public law practitioner who has appeared at all court levels. Her multi-disciplinary practice spans the breadth of public law and civil liberties. Stephanie’s cases include those arising from unlawful detention, national security, official misconduct, abuse of power, child sexual exploitation, equality and discrimination, minority rights and civil rights protest and injunctions. She also has considerable expertise in cases involving closed material procedures. Stephanie is ranked for Administrative and Public Law, Civil Liberties and Human Rights and Immigration in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK Bar Guide.

Tom Wainwright, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Tom Wainwright has a formidable reputation as a passionate defender and a powerful advocate. He has appeared in some of the most high-profile cases of recent years including the Colston statue topplers, the Hatton Garden burglary, the ‘Stansted 15’ protestors and a number of large-scale international frauds. Tom has acted in a great many ground-breaking appeals, with twelve cases in the current edition of Archbold. Tom has a particular interest and experience in Serious Fraud and Confiscation, Protest Cases, Terrorism, and Criminal Appeals. He is regularly instructed as Leading Junior Counsel in high-profile cases of significant complexity and legal importance. As lead author on The Protest Handbook, Tom specialises in upholding protestors’ rights under Articles 8, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and challenging the excessive or unlawful use of force by police officers.

Elena Papamichael, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Described as an “outstanding junior barrister and incredibly clever with first-class knowledge of the law” by The Legal 500 (2026).  Elena Papamichael is a first choice for serious, complex, document-heavy and multi-handed trials. She is a specialist in representing children in the Crown Court and has expertise in successfully challenging evidence, including so-called ‘gang’ evidence, drill music, and cell site. She also regularly undertakes judicial review work and has been ranked as a rising star in Administrative Law & Human Rights two years in a row. Elena is also part of the specialist protest law team. In DPP v Manchester City Magistrates Court [2023] EWHC 2938 (Admin) Elena was led by Tom Wainwright representing the first Interested Party. They were successful in the High Court in a judicial review by the DPP of an acquittal in relation to protest rights.

Will Hanson, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Will Hanson specialises in criminal defence, immigration and associated public law challenges. He is ranked as a leading junior in the Legal 500 in the areas of general crime and fraud. He is an experienced trial advocate with a broad practice in general crime, financial crime and extradition. Will has a particular expertise in cases engaging human rights issues, including modern slavery, public order and protest. He regularly represents clients in the Crown Court, Youth Court, and Magistrates’ Court, as well as appearing in the Court of Appeal and the High Court in respect of a range of offences. Will has developed a particular specialism in protest and public order cases and has since represented individuals in the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court, who protest in support of a range of causes, including Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Insulate Britain, Black Lives Matter and Palestine Action.

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