Garden Court Chambers, Garden Court North Chambers, One Pump Court and Nexus Chambers are pleased to come together to co-host:

‘Descent Into Authoritarianism? Undermining the Role of Defence Lawyers: The Rajiv Menon KC Case’.

The event is online only at 5:30-7:00PM on Wednesday 22 July 2026. You can register to attend here.

pete weatherby kc will chair the event, which will examine the unprecedented prosecution of Garden Court Chambers’ Rajiv Menon KC for alleged contempt of court.

We will bring together speakers from across the human rights legal world, including Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, Lord John Hendy, Michael Mansfield KC, Marcia Willis Stewart KC, Gareth Peirce, Raju Bhatt, Henry Blaxland KC, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC, Keir Monteith KC, Jane Deighton, Deborah Coles, Matt Foot, Akiko Hart and Sarah-Jane Ewart, with a special message from Ed Fitzgerald KC.

The event will examine the targeting of lawyers as a hallmark of authoritarianism, and the tradition and importance of fearless advocacy in controversial cases.

We will also explore the chilling effect of bringing contempt proceedings regarding comments made in a closing speech and the constitutional importance of jury independence.