Last week, on 21 February, the appeal court unanimously rejected an attempt by Clarke to add a “conspiracy” claim to his lawsuit, which could have delayed the start of the libel trial.
Warby’s ruling on Thursday is the second time in the space of a week that the court of appeal has rejected an attempt by Clarke to overturn a decision by the trial judge.
But Lord Justice Warby ruled on Thursday that Clarke could not appeal against the decision, stating it would have “no real prospect of success” and that there was “no other compelling reason for this court to hear an appeal”.
The court of appeal has refused Noel Clarke permission to challenge a trial judge’s decision not to throw out the Guardian’s defence in a libel claim.
Clarke had sought to challenge the decision at the court of appeal and asked for the trial of the claim to be delayed while the appeal was heard.
