Legal nuances

What the rule says, the point most people miss, and how it got that way. Every claim links to the primary record.

• Bushell's Case · 1670 → Webster · 2026
  Jury conscience
  Jurors cannot be punished for their verdict, and an acquittal stands. But in 2026 the Court of Appeal said the oath to try a case on the evidence leaves no right to do the opposite.
• Terrorism Act 2000 · s.1
  The loaded gun
  "Terrorism" includes serious damage to property done to influence the government for a political cause. No injury required.
• Terrorism Act 2000 · ss.11–13
  Proscription
  Once a group is banned, membership, inviting support, or even displaying a symbol of support becomes a criminal offence.
• DPP v Ziegler · 2021
  Lawful excuse
  The Supreme Court held that blocking a road in protest can be lawful if prosecution would be disproportionate. Within eighteen months, the courts confined it.
• ECHR Article 7 · Human Rights Act 1998
  No punishment without law
  No one can be convicted for an act that was not a crime when they did it. But an old law can be used in a new way.

Also as JSON · llms.txt