British Judge Resigns from Media Freedom Panel Following Controversial Ruling in Hong Kong

Lord David Neuberger, a British judge, has resigned from his position as chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, shortly after voting to uphold the conviction of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. Neuberger, who serves as an overseas non-permanent judge on Hong Kong’s top court, expressed concerns that his role could detract from the mission of the Media Freedom Coalition, which comprises 51 countries. His resignation comes amid criticism for prioritizing his judicial duties over media freedom. Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and vocal critic of Beijing, has been imprisoned for four years following his participation in pro-democracy protests. His recent appeal was rejected by the Hong Kong Court of Appeal, which has drawn condemnation from various human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, who labeled the charges against him as politically motivated. Neuberger's ruling indicated that British legal precedents should not apply in Hong Kong, highlighting the differing legal frameworks between the two jurisdictions. The situation has raised alarms among former British officials, including Lord Chris Patten, who described the verdict as unjust and indicative of Hong Kong's deteriorating rule of law. Critics have pointed out the hypocrisy of Neuberger's dual roles as a judge and trustee of Prisoners Abroad, a charity supporting British prisoners overseas, questioning how he can reconcile these positions while contributing to the imprisonment of a fellow British citizen. As tensions rise over the state of democracy in Hong Kong, the resignations of other British judges from the Court of Final Appeal reflect growing concerns about the erosion of judicial independence and the rule of law in the territory.