Dame Victoria Sharp

Dame Victoria Sharp is the President of the King's Bench Division of the High Court in the UK. She recently led a panel of three judges who ruled that the UK government's ban on Palestine Action, a direct action protest group, was unlawful. This decision is newsworthy because the proscription of Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws was a controversial move, categorizing the group alongside organizations like Islamic State. The ruling has significant implications for Palestine Action, its supporters, and the government's strategy to combat the group. The government intends to appeal the judgment, leaving uncertainty about the future of trials against individuals arrested for supporting Palestine Action. The case highlights the complexities of balancing national security concerns with the right to protest and freedom of expression.