Magistrates Who Ignore the Law
The ‘scales of justice’ have tipped heavily in favour of the State in recent years, to the detriment of anyone who may be suspected of a criminal offence. Dilutions of the right to silence and presumption of innocence mean that, in...
Judge Tells Defendant “You’re a bit of a c**t yourself”
Judges are meant to have thick-skins, and are frequently disrespected by defendants who cannot contain their anger or feel they have nothing more to lose. But one judge stunned Chelmsford Crown Court in the UK by giving as good as...
‘Not White, Not Right’ – Racist Graffiti Scrawled Across Iconic Bondi
The eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi is a tourist Mecca, attracting millions of visitors from all over Australia and abroad each year. The area showcases the best of our nation - a world famous beach with glowing white sand, a...
Criminal Conviction a Problem for One Nation Senator
This week started with drama for newly elected Western Australian senator, Rodney Culleton, when he was arrested on Monday by Armidale police. The story so far… There has been an outstanding warrant for the Senator’s arrest for several months, issued...
Criminal laws “lead almost to a ‘brain explosion’”, says Supreme Court Judge
Victorian Supreme Court Judge Mark Weinberg has seen a great deal in his 50 years as a lawyer, including the criminal law’s “shift from common law to statute, and in some cases, to codification”. In his speech to the Victorian...
Reclaim Australia Member Charged with Terrorism
Last December, we reported on the case of 31-year-old Phillip Galea, a member of extreme right-wing group Reclaim Australia who was found in possession of five tasers, more than 3000 times the legal limit of mercury (which can be used...
Australian Lawyers Lead the Way in Pro Bono Work
Lawyers are often seen as money-hungry and heartless individuals who live in ‘ivory towers’, with legal professionals being the target of frequent criticism and the butt of many jokes. However, the legal industry is one of the few which consistently...
‘Hey Dad Wall’ Built to Protect Robert Hughes from Faeces and Urine Attacks
67-year-old former ‘Hey Dad’ star, Robert Hughes, was convicted in Downing Centre District Court of child sex offences in May 2014. He was sentenced to a full term of 10 years and 6 months in prison, with a ‘non parole...
Netherlands Closes Prisons due to Shortage of Criminals
The Netherlands will close several of its prisons in coming years due to a steady decline in crime rates. Why are prisons empty? The Netherlands places a heavy emphasis on diversion, reintegration and rehabilitation programs, which have proven to be...
Sleeping Man Cleared of Rape Charges
The Central Appeals Court in Sweden has overturned the conviction of a man found guilty of sexual assault, finding that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he was awake when he had intercourse with a teenaged...
