24 June 2026
Rajiv Menon KC (pictured). Credit: Garden Court Chambers.
Garden Court North members express solidarity with Rajiv Menon KC, a highly respected silk and member of Garden Court Chambers, who faces prosecution for contempt of court.
The alleged contempt concerns the closing speech that Rajiv delivered to a jury at the Woolwich Crown Court in January 2026, when he was defending pro-Palestine activists charged with criminal damage during direct action taken at a factory in Filton, Bristol, belonging to Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer.
After a day-long hearing on 19 June, Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson’s order of Monday (22 June) will lead to Rajiv being referred to a Presiding Judge for his or her consideration of whether to pursue a criminal prosecution against him for contempt of court.
Full statement
We are dismayed to learn that proceedings are once again being initiated against Rajiv Menon KC for contempt of court following his speech delivered to a jury at the Woolwich Crown Court in January 2026.
This follows a Court of Appeal decision that the initial proceedings (subject of our previous statement) were brought unlawfully. We join our colleagues at Garden Court Chambers in expressing our full solidarity with Rajiv and total opposition to these proceedings which create an atmosphere of intimidation for barristers and undermine and diminish our system of criminal justice.
Garden Court Chambers’ full statement can be found here.
This statement is made on behalf of the Garden Court North crime team, signed and supported by the following members of Garden Court North:
Ciara Bartlam
Sonia Birdee
Rosalind Burgin
Bethany Currie
Mira Hammad
Tasaddat Hussein
Pragnya Iovine (Pupil)
Vijay Jagadesham
Mikhil Karnik
Lucy Mair
Ben McCormack
Alexander McColl
Elizabeth Mottershaw
Misha Nayak-Oliver
Helen Peden
Avril Rushe
Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright
Iqra Shahid (Pupil)
Kerry Smith
Kate Stone
Alexa Thompson
Camille Warren
Anna Watterson
Pete Weatherby KC
Christian Weaver
Additional media
Garden Court Chambers – Rajiv Menon KC
Law Society Gazette – Contempt case against silk can continue
Declassified UK – Palestine Action lawyer faces renewed contempt proceedings
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
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