UK Judges to Be Given More Powers to Throw out Strategic Lawsuits

The 'Lady of Justice,' a 12-foot-high gold leaf statue, is pictured on top of the dome of the Central Criminal Court, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey, in central London on Aug. 21, 2016. Niklas Halle'n/AFP via Getty Images

Judges in England and Wales are to be given more power to throw out lawsuits which allegedly help wealthy and powerful individuals and corporations gag the media.

In March 2022, the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke out about the “chilling effect” of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which he said were being used to stop journalists or campaigners from exposing wrongdoing.