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Fair.

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Fair - treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination.

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Fair. The Fourteenth artwork from the Law on the Wall series by Lawyers Arts Club.


The title Fair is taken from the Human Rights Act 1998. Article 6.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A SINGLE WORD

“One word is enough for a wise man”. This idiom dates back to the 1500s, and has been interpreted in many ways over the years. Do you see it in the sense that one word is all you need to be wise? Or even that you are wise if one word is all that it takes for you to understand? Whatever it means to you one thing stays the same. The significance of a single word.

WHY FAIR ?

We are the only ones who have the ability to make this world fair. We wish to be treated fairly by other individuals, we are expected to act fairly in life. However, with discrimination, poverty, world hunger and even innocent people currently incarcerated it bodes the question. Do we act fairly in an already unfair world?

Frieze London Art Fair in Regent’s Park

Frieze London Art Fair in Regent’s Park

WHAT LAW IS ON THE WALL?

The legal context in this act showcases the significance of the word fair. It represents the importance that a fair trial must be held before conviction. A person has the right to be heard and tried by a completely unbiased judge or jury.

Human Rights Act 1998. Article 6. Right to a fair trial 1 in the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interest of morals, public order or national security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.

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THE ACT ENABLED WOMEN TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE.

The law enshrined the right fought for by females oppressed by the dominant male led society. There are few things that are certain in life and females fought to be on equal ground as one of two.

Art is why I get up in the morning but my definition ends there. You know I don’t think its fair that I’m living for something I can’t even define.
— Ani Di Franco

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO SEVEN

8 members of a peaceful protest in 1968 were identified as responsible for crossing the border to incite a riot. The anti-Vietnam war protest was quickly turned into a riot as police used tear gas, batons and physical force to stop the protestors from moving. The group of wrongly accused were subject to a 4 month trial spearheaded by Judge Julius Hoffman. From the beginning Hoffman was evidently on the side of the prosecution, actively interrupting the defence to insult the appearance of the defendants. At the end of proceedings Hoffman cited the defendants and their lawyers with 152 contempts of court. William Kuntsler, the defence attorney was sentenced to 4 years in prison for accidentally referring to the judge as Mr Hoffman instead of Your Honour. Abbie Hoffman, one of the accused received an 8 month prison sentence for laughing in court.

BOBBY SEALE

Bobby Seale, a co-founder of the Black Panthers had no links to the other 7 on trial. Seale’s attorney was ill and unable to represent his client therefore Bobby requested that the trial be postponed so he could have fair representation. Hoffman refused this request as well as not allowing Seale to represent himself. After protesting this for being illegal and racist, Hoffman ordered that Seale should be bound, gagged and tied to his chair. Seale was kept like this for a few days until the judge was forced into declaring a mistrial. Hoffman still sentenced Seale to 4 years imprisonment for contempt of court, despite him being treated illegally and unfairly since the trial began.

The 8 defendants in the Chicago trials in 1969.

The 8 defendants in the Chicago trials in 1969.

YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS

Everyone should know their human rights to help us identify when we are being treated fairly or not. According to the Human Rights Act 1998, we are entitled to:

  • Right to life

  • Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment

  • Freedom from slavery and forced labour

  • Right to liberty and security

  • Right to a fair trial

  • No punishment without law

  • Respect for your private and family life, home and correspondence

  • Freedom of thought, belief and religion

  • Freedom of expression

  • Freedom of assembly and association

  • Right to marry and start a family

  • Protection from discrimination in respect of these rights and freedoms

  • Right to peaceful enjoyment of your property

  • Right to education

  • Right to participate in free elections

  • Abolition of the death penalty


WHY IS FAIR IMPORTANT IN 2021 AN BEYOND?

To be fair is to be understanding of a situation, it is to be balanced and allowing everyone an equal chance. In the current climate social dynamics are shifting on a a daily, more and more people are finding the courage to stand up for what is right. In the ever ongoing battle against racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, those who want to speak are given the chance because of people being fair.

FAIR MATTERS

The criminal justice system is in the spine of any country. The right to a fair trial is what could see an innocent person walk away from a lifetime in prison, or preventing an individual from committing crime more. The phrase innocent until proven guilty highlights just how fair the process is. People should not be condemned by the eye of the law unless they have been proven to have done wrong.

The Acquittal by Abraham Solomon

The Acquittal by Abraham Solomon

THE COURT ROOM

Many of us have seen a courtroom in TV shows and movies. From Jim Carey in Liar Liar to Law & Order to Judge Rinder. However for you to fully understand fair, it is crucial to understand who in a courtroom is making the verdict. In England and Wales there is a 35% chance that you will be summoned for jury duty. If you are selected then you are legally obliged to attend and be a part of the unbiased jury. To make it as fair as possible the jury are limited to only discuss the trial with other jurors in the deliberation room. It is only after the trial has finished that you are allowed to discuss what happened in the courtroom.

THE JUDGE

The judge sits at the head of the courtroom, and is the public official vested with the authority to hear, determine, and preside over legal matters. In jury cases the judge is there to pass the sentence, inform the jurors of the laws and maintain a sense of decorum in the courtroom. However ultimately the verdict comes down to the jury, a decision that the judge cannot overrule. In Civil Law cases the trial is usually inquisitorial, meaning that the judge is doing the questioning and will determine the verdict based on the facts that arise.

FAIRS

Fairs are a great family day out usually consisting of stalls, food, rides and some kind of a performance. Springing up around the world all year long they have cemented themselves as a way to display community spirit and celebration. What you might not know about fairs is that they date back to as early as 500 BC. In the book of Ezekiel it is stated "Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the kinds of riches with silver, iron, tin and lead, they traded in thy fairs." It is believed that in the early days, fairs were a place in which merchants would go to trade foreign goods they had acquired on their travels.

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS

It was not until the Victorian era that fairs would be an exhibition of fairground attractions. By the beginning of the nineteenth century attractions such as theatrical booths, waxworks, and freak shows dominated the fairground scene. By the 1860s fairgrounds were transformed with the introduction of the steam powered roundabout. These knew mechanical rides made the fairground seem modern and futuristic and planted the seeds for the fairs golden age. By the end of the 1800s the fairground landscape was littered with steam yachts, switchbacks and of course the most famous of them all, carousels.

INTERACTIVE ART THAT SPARKS DISCUSSION

This is an on going, interactive artwork to keep people engaged with the law and the discussion that comes from it.

FAIR HAIR

It is an old wives tale that all blond haired people are descended from Vikings. As cool as that would be the real truth is a little more scientific. The fair hair is most commonly associated with Northern Europe, with an estimated 2% of people worldwide being naturally blond. It is theorised that the genetic mutation dates back to the last Ice Age. In areas in Northern Europe people would be subject to lower levels of solar radiation. This caused pigmentation of the skin to become lighter as they needed less protection from the sun. Our bodies create Vitamin D from direct contact with the sun, lighter skin makes it easier to absorb the solar radiation in colder less sunny areas. Following this theory, the development of fair hair was for a similar reason. Blond hair allows the body to absorb more of the sun making it easier for the body to generate Vitamin D and avoid getting rickets.

Banksy’s Flower Thrower in Palestine as protest for human rights.

Banksy’s Flower Thrower in Palestine as protest for human rights.

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
— Lao Tzu
Fairground with the Sacré-Coeur in the Background by Louis Abel-Truchet

Fairground with the Sacré-Coeur in the Background by Louis Abel-Truchet

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