The importance of trial by jury

Twelve peers better than one judge in court of law

- EDWARD OTTLEY

Without a 'Trial by Jury', parliament and its guiding executive is given carte blanche to enact legislation which, based on current events, will lead to increasingly authoritarian laws undermining the welfare of the population and exerting more and more control

WHEN faced with a court appearance, many people would instinctively prepare to take on the services of a solicitor and, certainly in the case of criminal proceedings, a barrister.

And, therefore, they are settling in for an expensive and quite often disempowering experience.

Certainly this was my initial reaction having been summoned to appear at my local magistrates' court to answer a charge in relation to a fire safety regulatory offence with reference to my firm's property management work.

Having been quoted thousands of pounds in fees, and being exposed to a rather negative tone from my assembled legal team, I felt in my bones that there was a better way.

Being A Stand in the Park member, attending my local park most Sundays since the pandemic lockdown era, when I was particularly concerned about loss of freedom and mask mandates, I eventually became very aware of the issue of personal sovereignty and the potential protections of Common Law in this regard.

Initially, I found the whole subject difficult to grasp, and wondered how it could possibly be put into practice, but nevertheless, began to research the subject.

It was on Telegram that I spotted Common Law posts from a 'Stand in the Park' group in the Peak District, which increasingly drew my interest as 'Trial by Jury' was mentioned.

The allure of a 'Trial by Jury' grew stronger and more urgent as my court date approached, and so I made a trip up to the Peak District and met someone who a few years previously had purposely put himself through the courts to test the system.