# Cato Expert: Thunberg Arrest Highlights Erosion of Jury Trial Rights in UK and US 

Climate activist Greta Thunberg’s recent arrest in the U.K. has exposed a shift in British justice: the government’s decision, led by the current Justice Minister, Sarah Sackman, to eliminate jury trials for defendants facing up to three years in prison.

January 14, 2026 • News Releases 

Climate activist Greta Thunberg’s recent arrest in the U.K. has exposed a shift in British justice: the government’s decision, led by the current Justice Minister, Sarah Sackman, to eliminate jury trials for defendants facing up to three years in prison.

In a recent [blog post](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fgreta-thunberg-wont-be-tried-uk-jury-why-not/1/0100019bbd1ea370-21ec2aa4-2900-43e5-a498-ba9a235d02fc-000000/hAqAg4C0outREn6orzgKIESkXYA=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjNiY2NjZTczNjIxZWI4NGZiYmNhYjgyNTNhYzM2NThkOjc6ODE3OTo5ZjdiOGFlYmRlYWJhYmU4ZjNlZTBhNTM0MzhjZTFmMWRiODI4ZDJhZmQyNjgzZWJhNWQyODIwNTQ3ZTUzMjVlOmg6VDpO), [Matthew Cavedon](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fmatthew-cavedon/1/0100019bbd1ea370-21ec2aa4-2900-43e5-a498-ba9a235d02fc-000000/gsTbYzzUc4PGDmBIbO0MX4up3t8=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjNiY2NjZTczNjIxZWI4NGZiYmNhYjgyNTNhYzM2NThkOjc6OTNkODpkMDFkODNiMzUwZmEzZWI3Y2FhZGNiNzc2NTQ3NzZmY2Q4MTY5NDY1MDFhODU1ZTJhZmUxODllMmYzZGRlZDk1Omg6VDpO), director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice, details how, just like in the U.K., the role of juries has been eroded by American bureaucrats:

> “That right has often been as unpopular with America’s bureaucrats as it is with Sackman. And they’ve often had things their way, convincing courts to make up classes of cases that are criminal in nature, can be tried by judges alone, such as civil asset forfeitures and ‘petty offenses.’ Indeed, under current American law, Greta Thunberg would not be entitled to a trial by jury here either because her maximum sentence would be less than six months’ imprisonment. Prosecutors have also used coercive plea bargaining to remove jury trials as a serious option for all but a minuscule number of defendants.”

To speak with Cavedon on the proper role of juries, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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