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The UK Supreme Court will refer a lawyer who violated the embargo on his Heathrow Airport ruling to the Attorney General and the Bar Standards Board for investigation.
Tim Crosland, director of the environmental charity Plan B Earth, received the ruling in advance as one of the parties involved in the case, and published his reaction on Tuesday, the day before the sentence was handed down.
Crosland said he was doing it as an “act of civil disobedience” and in protest of the court’s decision that the government’s decision to approve the development of a third runway at the airport was made legally with reference to climate goals.
The court’s decision was made public after the announcement that it had overturned a ruling in February that an additional runway at Heathrow was illegal.
The decision means that the project can apply for planning permission, however the completion of the track remains uncertain.
The ruling marks the latest turn in years of legal and political disputes over the climate impact and economic benefits of the airport expansion. It means that central London can now apply for a development consent order.
Crosland said he was “ready to face the consequences” of his decision to break the embargo.
A Supreme Court spokeswoman said: “The court will make a reference to the attorney general. The decision to initiate proceedings in response to Mr. Crosland’s leaking sentence would be made by the attorney general and not by this court.
“We will also file a complaint about Mr. Crosland’s conduct with the Bar Standards Board, so it can consider whether disciplinary action should be taken.”
