What Happens When A Defamation Case Meets Contempt of Court?

Defamation: Imagine sending an email criticising a lawyer, then finding yourself behind bars a few months later. That's exactly what happened to a group of self-declared "sovereign citizens." The group allegedly defamed a solicitor in a flurry of emails addressed to some of the most powerful figures in Western Australia's legal system.

However, this wasn't your everyday defamation suit. What began as inflammatory claims soon escalated into a contempt of court case. In the end, it resulted in prison time and a public lesson in the limits of defiance.

Who Are the Sovereign Citizens: And What Did They Do?

Sovereign citizens are a loosely connected movement whose members reject the legitimacy of the Australian government and legal system. Many believe they can opt out of laws simply by declaring themselves independent from state authority.