Memo to Greg O’Connor
Monday, April 18th, 2011It’s a bit of a worry when even the police don’t understand the rules of contempt of court. Police Association President Greg O’Connor scores an F on his understanding of the sub judice rule, as evidenced by his appearance on Close Up to defend the police’s handling of the Tiki Taane arrest. The sub judice […]
Jumping the gun?
Monday, April 18th, 2011Does Saturday’s front-page DomPost story break the law on reporting possible suicides? I think it does. The story reports that Timothy Parlane was “killed by a train” shortly after police were warned that he was “suicidal”. The Coroner’s Act prevents the publication of any particular relating to the manner of death when there’s reasonable cause […]
CERA sweepstake
Friday, April 15th, 2011How long before the first amendments are needed to the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act?
Bouquet to SST
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011Adam Dudding of the SST has written a terrific profile on Paul Henry, deftly revealing him as an egotistical blowhard, but somehow likeable. I am fascinated by Henry’s (no doubt accurate) vision of himself as an opinion merchant. The pride Henry takes in the quality of his opinions is related to their ability to provoke reactions, not any […]
Protesters ahoy
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011Andrew Geddis on Pundit has posted an analysis of some of the legal and constitutional issues surrounding Greenpeace’s protest against mining surveyers on the seas off the East Cape. Among other interesting points, he suggests that the seas can’t be a public place for the purposes of a charge of disorderly behaviour. I’ve suggested they […]
Fuck the police indeed
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011If the facts in this story are accurate, this seems a very questionable exercise of police powers: A number of people at the gig said [singer Tiki] Taane began singing “f*** the police” when they carried out a standard inspection of the club. When they approached him afterwards “things got out of hand”, a person […]
Que CERA, CERA?
Thursday, April 7th, 2011A scenario: a staff-member at the new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority leaks some information to the media. Maybe it’s about waste or inefficiency in the recovery effort. Maybe it’s about a raging personality conflict hampering operations. Maybe it’s about a contractor on the take. The minister and the chief executive are furious about the leak. […]
A rod for their own backs
Thursday, April 7th, 2011In the past week or so, both Fran O’Sullivan and Brian Rudman have assailed the courts for removing the Urewera 18’s right to a jury trial. Both are troubled that the reasoning behind the decisions (from the High Court, and then the Court of Appeal) is suppressed. Both say it’s difficult to see how the […]
Worst defamation ever?
Thursday, April 7th, 2011Dismissing Vince Siemer’s appeal against NZ’s highest ever defamation damages award, the Court of Appeal said: We have not had our attention drawn to any worse case of defamation in the British Commonwealth, and our own researches have not disclosed one. Really? It’s hard to imagine they looked very hard. What about the famous case […]
Marshalling the facts?
Thursday, March 31st, 2011You may recall that I blogged about a student who accused journalist Jonathan Marshall of trying to persuade him to lie to university staff to extract information from them. The Sunday Star-Times’ editor called it “complete fantasy”. I’ve just had another long conversation with the student concerned. His memory of Jonathan’s approach is detailed. He says it happened after a tutorial […]
« Previous Entries Next Entries »