Robert Lizar is a patron of GMLC. He and his firm are committed to providing legal services that promote access to justice, and we share these principles. Solicitors from the firm Nicola Hall and Simon Pook worked tirelessly pro bono to secure the release of three anti fracking protestors, as the Court of Appeal found their sentences “manifestly excessive” last week.
The case of the protestors who had been jailed for peaceful protest sparked national outrage. Their release is a victory for environmental campaigners, for the right to protest, and for lawyers who dedicate their careers to protecting rights and freedoms.
We are proud of our supporters, colleagues and friends fighting for justice.
“We are very pleased that the sentence of imprisonment imposed on each of our clients; Rich Loizou, Simon Blevins and Richard Roberts have today been quashed. They have been a pleasure to represent and in our professional view should not have been sent to prison in the first place.
The Court of Appeal have recognised that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right in a democratic society. The rights to freedom of assembly are clearly protected by Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We are delighted that this principle has been upheld today.”
– Nicola Hall and Simon Pook, Robert Lizar Solicitors
Photo credit: Anthony Majanlahti, Flickr, 2005
