Ep 123: Rap Lyrics and Racial Injustice in the Criminal Justice System: Kier Monteith KC on 'Art Not Evidence'

In this episode, host Sarah speaks with solicitor Jack Murphy of McIvor Farrell Solicitors about his work across a broad range of human rights areas. From representing Raymond McCord Sr in the long-running campaign for an Article 2-compliant public inquiry into his son’s murder, to challenging unlawful housing decisions affecting refugees and social housing tenancy succession, Jack discusses the legal and emotional realities of working on challenging human rights cases.   The conversation also explores prisoner rights and cultural dignity following a case that led to Irish language books being permitted in Maghaberry Prison, the pressures facing access to justice and legal aid, and the wider human impact of housing and homelessness litigation. Jack reflects on standout moments in his career to date, his work with Belfast Homeless Services, and offers advice for aspiring lawyers hoping to use the law as a tool for social change.  

In this episode of Activist Lawyer, host Sarah Henry speaks with Roi Bachmutsky from Amnesty International’s Business and Human Rights team about corporate criminal liability - how companies become implicated in international crimes, and what it takes to investigate and pursue those cases. From tracing supply chains to preparing criminal complaints, Roi unpacks how corporate accountability operates in practice.   Drawing on his experience, including his work with the Global Echo Litigation Centre - a small non-profit law firm he founded and led to focus on strategic litigation against companies implicated in war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory, Roi reflects on a complaint linked to war crimes in the West Bank. He shares key lessons on gathering and assessing evidence, engaging ethically with law enforcement, and staying resilient in emotionally demanding work.   A thoroughly insightful and compelling conversation for anyone interested in working in this emerging field of law.   Roi Bachmutsky is a human rights attorney specializing in strategic litigation against corporate actors. He currently serves as a Legal Advisor and Researcher on Amnesty International’s Business and Human Rights team, where he manages the organization’s Corporate Crimes Project and recently authored the Corporate Crimes Handbook.   Before joining Amnesty, Roi co-founded and directed the Global Echo Litigation Center, a non-profit law firm that represents Palestinian communities in strategic litigation seeking to hold companies accountable for complicity in violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory. He has also supported prosecutions of the most serious international crimes at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the Commission for International Justice and Accountability.   Prior to becoming a lawyer, Roi worked for the Israeli human rights organisation Breaking the Silence.   For more on Roi Bachmutsky ’s work visit his website: Roi Bachmutsky - International Lawyer

We kick off our first Activist Lawyer Book Club of 2026 – with ‘Through the Gates of Hell – American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay’ by Joshua Colangelo – Bryan.   Listeners to the podcast will remember a recent episode featuring lawyer and author , Joshua Colangelo – Bryan discussing his career in international human rights law, his role with Human Rights First and his latest publication which of course features as our first Book Club 2026 read!     Please join us if you can: [email protected]    Email us Thursday 19th March 2026 6-7pm GMT Via Zoom    

Host Sarah Henry interviews Kier Monteith KC from Garden Court Chambers, discussing his pivotal work with the Art Not Evidence campaign. Kier explores the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court, shining a light on the systemic racism that pervades the criminal justice system. He shares the story of Ademola Adedeji, an aspiring law student whose conviction for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm was quashed after new evidence revealed he had been wrongfully identified in a video in which drill music played. This case, part of the Manchester 10 appeal, underscores the urgent need for reform. Listen in and support the Art Not Evidence campaign, fighting for a fairer criminal justice system by advocating for a restriction on the use of creative and artistic expression as evidence in criminal trials. Keir Monteith KC is a highly sought-after leading silk who represents clients facing heavyweight criminal allegations. He has defended in numerous murders, industrial-scale Class A drug importations, high profile National Crime Agency cases, £100M frauds, multi-million-pound confiscations, escape from custody cases and heavily armed Organised Crime Group conspiracies. Keir is ranked for criminal law in Chambers UK and the Legal 500. He is also ranked in Tier 1 for Fraud in the Legal 500. Keir is an Honorary Professor of Law and Simon Fellow at the University of Manchester. He is currently briefed in two murder cases; has obtained leave to appeal in a murder; is instructed in a high profile triple murder CCRC application and is briefed in a multi-handed Class A drugs conspiracy allegedly involving a machine gun, other firearms and a turnover of almost 1 metric tonne – 35M worth of cocaine. Keir sits as a Recorder (part-time Crown Court Judge) and is a training tutor for the Judicial College.   Keir acted for Ademola Adedeji in his historic and ground-breaking appeal, where his conviction for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm was quashed in early 2025.   Links: For more on Kier Monteith KC’s work: https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/barrister/keir-monteith-kc/   For super merchandise to support Art not Evidence: Art Not Evidence official store – Art Not Evidence shop   Art not Evidence Campaign https://artnotevidence.org/

We are delighted to welcome two brilliant lawyers, Marbré Stahly-Butts and Ameca Reali, to the Activist Lawyer podcast. Talking to our host Sarah Henry, the discussion centres on movement lawyering - what it is, what it takes, and how lawyers can be forces for liberation. Marbré and Ameca have recently launched an excellent new book, Lawyering for Liberation: A Toolbox for Movement Lawyers -  an insightful, practical guide for lawyers and social justice workers who want to make real and meaningful change.   Marbré Stahly-Butts Marbré Stahly-Butts is a distinguished lawyer, scholar, and leading voice in movement lawyering. She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Law at CUNY School of Law, where her teaching and research focus on abolition, racial justice, and law as a tool for transformative social change. Prior to academia, Marbré co-founded and served as Executive Director of Law for Black Lives, a national network of lawyers, legal workers, and advocates committed to advancing Black liberation through collective legal strategies. Her leadership in this movement lawyering community helped shape frameworks that centre abolitionist politics, Black feminist thought, and anti-capitalist critique in legal practice. Marbré’s professional journey includes work with grassroots organisations, policy development, and national campaigns to advance racial and economic justice, reflecting her commitment to building responsive legal infrastructure for social movements. She holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and has been a central figure in both scholarship and practice that bridges law, activism, and systemic change.   Ameca Reali Ameca Reali is an accomplished civil rights attorney and nonprofit leader dedicated to housing justice, racial equity, and the empowerment of communities historically denied fair treatment under the law. She is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Centre, where she leads efforts to enforce fair housing laws and dismantle discrimination across the state of Louisiana. Before this role, Ameca was Membership Director at Law for Black Lives, where she built and strengthened a network of thousands of lawyers and legal workers committed to supporting Black liberation and movement lawyering. Her career spans over a decade of advocacy, including co-founding and directing community-based legal initiatives, and developing programs that address housing insecurity, economic justice, and systemic inequality. A graduate of Loyola University College of Law, Ameca brings both lived experience and deep professional expertise to her work advancing social justice and transformative legal practice.   About Lawyering for Liberation Lawyering for Liberation: A Toolbox for Movement Lawyers is a timely and powerful manifesto offering concrete tools for legal professionals and activists engaged in struggle for justice. Edited by Marbré Stahly-Butts and Ameca Reali, the book draws on years of frontline movement work and collective insight from lawyers, organizers, and legal workers. Grounded in abolitionist politics, Black queer feminism, and anticapitalist analysis, this guide reframes lawyering not as an isolated profession but as a strategic part of broader social movements seeking liberation and systemic transformation. Topics include jail and bail support, protester defense, reparations, housing justice, and more — all oriented toward building long-term power and community-rooted change.   For more on Marbré and Ameca's work check out: - https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Lawyering-for-Liberation-by-Ameca-Reali-editor-Marbre-Stahly-Butts-editor/9780520392359?srsltid=AfmBOop_GVO9v4PiRYNvAVAuoExGdCdAtksZYBJYr1rn7j4_nEUTOfBq - https://www.instagram.com/amecareali?igsh=MThocHU1YWt3YWp4Ng== -https://www.instagram.com/marbrecaryn?igsh=MWo4YTFzcWg2Z2Zieg==

Activist Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Henry sits down with Diarmuid Brecknell, solicitor at Phoenix Law, to discuss his pivotal role in securing justice for victims of historical abuse and families affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Diarmuid shares his experience of working on inquests, inquiries, and actions against public authorities, and sheds light on his involvement in some of the most high-profile and sensitive cases in recent years. Tune in to hear about the challenges, triumphs, and the ongoing fight for accountability in some of the most complex legal battles in Ireland.   Diarmuid is a Solicitor in the Public Law, Inquests, and Inquiries Department at Phoenix Law. He completed his LLB at Ulster University before graduating from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s University Belfast in 2025. Diarmuid specialises in inquests, inquiries and actions against public authorities and is instructed in some of the most high-profile and sensitive cases in the jurisdiction. He also acts in several high-value civil claims arising from the actions of both public bodies and private organisations. Diarmuid has assisted in some of the most contentious and complex legal challenges brought against public authorities in recent years. His experience includes involvement in the landmark Supreme Court case Re McGuigan & McKenna (the “Hooded Men”) and the Court of Appeal decision in Re Barnard (the “Glenanne Series”), which resulted in an order for a fresh investigation into more than 120 murders, Operation Denton. He is also instructed in the significant civil actions flowing from these matters and has played a key role in securing substantial settlements for victims and survivors in claims against the PSNI, MOD, and other state bodies. Diarmuid’s extensive inquest and inquiry experience includes appearing in the historic Stardust Fire Inquest in Dublin, one of the largest and most complex inquests ever held in Ireland. Representing families who had campaigned for justice for over four decades, Diarmuid was part of the legal team that ultimately secured unlawful killing verdicts for all 48 victims, a landmark outcome that overturned 40 years of injustice and fundamentally reshaped public understanding of the tragedy. Diarmuid’s experience also includes the Ballymurphy Inquest, which examined the deaths of ten civilians killed during the introduction of internment in 1971. After nearly five decades, the Coroner found that all of those who died were entirely innocent of wrongdoing and that their killings were unjustified and unlawful. In addition, Diarmuid has worked on the Hickson Public Inquiry into historic child sexual abuse committed by Bill Kenneally in Waterford from 1970-1990s. Phoenix Law acted for survivors in their pursuit of transparency and accountability from institutions such as An Garda Síochána, Tusla, and the political leadership of the period, all of which had received reports of abuse but failed to intervene, allowing it to continue. Diarmuid is also currently instructed by over 380 victims of Michael Shine, one of the largest and most significant institutional-abuse cases ever brought in the State. He has helped progress the matter from its earliest stages to its current point, where a government-led scoping exercise is now underway to determine the most suitable model for a formal public inquiry. Throughout this process, he has represented survivors before senior public officials, including the Taoiseach, ensuring that their voices and experiences remain at the centre of the emerging investigative framework. Alongside his public law work, Diarmuid continues to act in multiple high-value civil claims and has experience in complex commercial litigation in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.   For more on Diarmuid’s work, check out: https://www.phoenix-law.org/  

Host Sarah Henry is joined by international lawyer Eitan Diamond, who specialises in international humanitarian law and human rights law. As Manager and Senior Legal Expert at the IHL Centre, Eitan leads efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian context.   Discussing the ongoing challenges faced by human rights organisations, he speaks about Israeli-imposed restrictions on humanitarian and human rights groups operating in the region and emphasises the crucial role of civic society in holding governments accountable under international law.    Learn more about working in the field of IHL and IHRL as this episode explores the intersection of international law, justice, and activism, offering insights on how we should continue to push for change and accountability.    About Eitan Diamond     Eitan Diamond is an international lawyer specialising in international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law. He serves as Manager and Senior Legal Expert at the IHL Centre overseeing its work in the Israeli-Palestinian context. He also serves on the managerial boards of the NGOs Public Committee against Torture in Israel and Parents against Child Detention, and on the editorial board of the Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies.   Eitan has previously worked, inter alia, as an expert consultant for UNICEF, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and at the research centre Forensic Architecture; as Executive Director of the NGO Gisha; as a Legal Advisor for the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Israel and the Occupied Territories; and as Researcher and Legal Advisor for the NGO B’Tselem.   Alongside his work as a practitioner, Eitan engages in academic research and has a range of publications on IHL-related themes. His academic qualifications include a PhD from the Meitar Centre for Advanced Legal Studies at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Law; an LLM in Public International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was a Chevening Scholar; and an LLB from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is also a recipient of a Diploma in Human Rights awarded by the Academy of European Law at the European University Institute.        To find out more about the work and organisations discussed in this episode, please see the following links:   For general information about the IHL Centre’s work in Israel Palestine: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/jerusalem/  Links to our publications are available here: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/news/?category=israel-palestine-publication   An Easy Guide on IHL for professionals working in the oPt: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/news/easy-guide-to-international-humanitarian-law/  A resource for our publications regarding the hostilities and violence in the oPt: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/jerusalem/2023-2024-hostilities-escalating-violence-opt/  A resource for our publications regarding legal proceedings before international court relating to Israel and the oPt: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/jerusalem/proceedings-before-international-courts-relating-to-israel-and-the-opt/  A resource for our publications regarding shrinking civic and humanitarian space in Israel-Palestine: https://www.diakonia.se/ihl/jerusalem/shrinking-space/  You can also follow Eitan Diamond’s work here:  LinkedIn and SSRN

Host Sarah Henry meets Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, a renowned human rights lawyer and special counsel at Human Rights First. Joshua shares his journey into law, his role in the fight for justice at Guantanamo Bay, and the inspiration behind his new book Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay.   Joshua Colangelo-Bryan is Special Counsel at Human Rights First, where he spearheads impact litigation and advocacy efforts to uphold democratic principles and support defenders of human rights. Beyond representing Guantanamo detainees, he has sued Turkey for assaulting protestors in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration for attempting to deport a college student based on protest activity, and a U.S. pastor who fomented legislation in Uganda criminalizing the LGBTQI community. Josh has conducted human-rights investigations in countries such as Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. He also served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.   To find out more on Through the Gates of Hell, American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay visit: https://humanitasmedia.org/through-the-gates-of-hell/   For more on the work of  Human Rights First please see: https://humanrightsfirst.org/

A short reminder of the Activist Lawyer Book club with registration details is discussed in today’s episode.  The next Book Club Meeting features 'Pride and Prejudices Queer Lives and the Law by Keio Yoshida. Tune in to find out more!  

In this special episode of The Activist Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Henry sits down with international human rights lawyer and barrister, Keio Yoshida, to explore their journey into law and the release of their new book ‘Pride and Prejudices: Queer Lives and the Law.’ Celebrating the progression in LGBTQ+ rights while highlighting the pressing issues still faced by queer communities around the world, this conversation is an inspiring yet sobering look at the path ahead for LGBTQ+ legal advocacy.   Dr Keio Yoshida is a human rights barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and author of Pride and Prejudices: Queer lives and the law (Scribe, 2025), and co-author with Jen Robinson of Silenced Women (Octopus, 2024)/How Many More Women (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Keio is an international advisory board member of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. In 2025, Keio was named by Attitude Magazine as one of the top 101 global LGBTQ+ trailblazers. Keio´s main domestic practice is in the areas of inquests, inquiries, and human rights law.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keioyoshida/