Banksy’s latest London salvo, where a judge, in full wig-and-gown regalia, is depicted beating a protester with a gavel, was slapped onto the Royal Courts of Justice on September 8, 2025. It was swiftly hidden under black plastic and barricades—not because we don’t like powerful art, but because the building is Grade-I listed and we apparently care more for stone façade than free speech.
The work screams state brutality but has also accepted The Metropolitan Police is also looking at whether there is a criminal charge lying in store for the famed street artist. He confirmed the work was his on Instagram on Monday, captioning the pictures of the mural “Royal Courts of Justice. London.”
Banksy has managed to keep his identity a secret since his emergence in the mid-Nineties, which has been the source of speculation across the world.
A HM Courts and Tribunals spokesperson said it will be removed in accordance with rules about listed buildings.
They said: “The Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character.”
The artwork is being guarded by security officials outside the building and is under a CCTV camera.
Banksy sells dissent like it’s art—and the establishment covers it up like it’s graffiti. The message’s potency is inversely proportional to its exposure. Critics call it censorship; supporters call it a bold mirror. Meanwhile, the courts focus on preservation, not protest.
