For several days in early September 2025, central London bore witness to a rare and confrontational act of street art. On the exterior wall of the Queen’s Building at the Royal Courts of Justice, a new Banksy mural appeared, depicting a judge in full wig and robe striking a prostrate protester with a gavel. Blood streaked the fallen figure’s placard – a stark and uncompromising image of authority confronting dissent.
The timing was loaded. Just a day before the mural appeared, nearly 900 people were arrested during protests opposing the government’s ban on the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action. Banksy did not issue a statement, but the artwork was widely interpreted as a commentary on the tension between judicial authority and public protest.
The mural was confirmed as authentic via Banksy’s Instagram, captioned simply: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” Over the following days, court officials covered the artwork with black sheeting and metal barriers. Security personnel monitored the site, and the Metropolitan Police received reports of potential criminal damage. By September 10, the mural had been fully removed, though a faint “ghost” image remained on the stone, hinting at its brief but powerful existence.
The choice of location was deliberate. The Royal Courts of Justice is a Gothic Revival symbol of legal authority, housing both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. By placing his work on this building, Banksy transformed a symbol of law into a canvas for critique, turning the very seat of judicial power into a platform for reflection.
Banksy has long used public spaces to question authority and societal norms – from gorillas lifting London Zoo shutters to piranhas circling police sentry boxes. Yet the Royal Courts mural carries a heightened significance: it directly engages with a legal institution at a moment of national debate over protest, civil liberties, and state power.
Though the mural’s physical presence lasted only a few days, its impact endures. Activists condemned its removal as an attempt to suppress public discourse, while Londoners and the wider public debated its meaning and relevance. Banksy’s latest piece serves as a reminder that even the most imposing institutions are not immune to scrutiny – and that art, however fleeting, can provoke thought, challenge authority, and leave a lasting impression.
