A naturist who argued that judges in northern England might hold unconscious biases against his lifestyle has failed in his bid to have his legal challenge moved to London. The High Court ruled that the case will be heard in Manchester.
Neil Cox is challenging the dismissal of his appeal against a conviction for a public order offence. His lawyers contended that a London hearing would be quicker and less susceptible to bias, citing that naturism could evoke conscious and unconscious prejudices.
Mrs Justice Hill, in a judgment published on Tuesday, rejected these arguments. She noted that the Manchester Civil Justice Centre is one of the largest court centres in the UK, well-equipped to handle sensitive situations. She found no proper basis to suggest that a judge in Manchester would be more biased against naturists than one in London.
Cox was convicted at Crewe Magistrates Court for an offence committed in Macclesfield, Cheshire, in August 2023. His legal team pointed to a previous naturism case heard in London, but the judge noted that case was nearly 12 years old and the judges involved had retired.
The judge ordered the claim to be transferred to the northern region for determination at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.
