Reading the tealeaves
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009I’ve just been watching argument in the Supreme Court in the Simunovich defamation case. For those interested in the fairly arcane (but nevertheless quite significant) issues at stake, my sense is that the media don’t have the upper hand. The Supreme Court judges do not seem attracted to the idea that the media should be […]
Karla Cardno’s dad suppression case: not much of an issue
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009You might have caught me on TV3 last night explaining that it was worth a shot for Karla Cardno’s dad and his new wife to seek name suppression for their sex charges on the grounds that they’re going to get extra publicity given the notoriety of those past (but unconnected) events. If you’re het up […]
Oops?
Sunday, June 7th, 2009Did this Saturday’s NZ Herald, in publishing the information suppressed in the Bain trial, overlook the fact that the Supreme Court had recalled its judgment last month to make it clear that the publication restriction continued until further order of the court? The story doesn’t seem to be on the Herald’s website any more. The recall was […]
New High Court search rules
Thursday, June 4th, 2009There are new rules about access to court documents (including exhibits), both criminal and civil. They are more detailed and to some extent more liberal than the old ones. They open up a range of documents subject to the overriding power of a judge to seal them. Some documents, however, can only be searched with the leave […]
The case against defamation
Thursday, June 4th, 2009Nicky Hager explains how he thinks hardball Aussie political consultant Lynton Crosby (of Crosby Textor fame) used defamation laws try to bully him for criticisms he made during a radio interview. You’ll remember that Nicky’s book The Hollow Men contained some pretty ugly revelations about the advice Crosby Textor gave to the National Party at the […]
Northern Exposé
Sunday, May 31st, 2009From the third season of Northern Exposure: Maurice Minnifield (local magnate and Cicely’s newspaper proprietor): You give ’em what they want. That’s the role of journalism. Joel Fleishman: No, Maurice, that’s the role of professional wrestling.
Pannick time!
Friday, May 29th, 2009David Pannick QC agrees with me (though there may be some chance that he does not read this blog and reached his conclusion independently) that the rules about interviewing jurors are too harsh.
Queer censorship rules
Friday, May 29th, 2009Noticed that you can’t find Queer as Folk at your local video shop? Actually, you can’t find any of these titles either. As Andrew Armitage explains, it’s because it’s too expensive to get them classified. Even if they’ve been on TV. Even if you could order them through Amazon.com. Even if they’ve been in the […]
Your booze leader
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009The Guardian is reporting that media workers are the biggest lushs in England.
Media law tsunami in Canada
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009A wave of important media law cases is hitting the Canadian Supreme Court. One’s on qualified privilege and I’ve discussed it here. The others include cases on confidential sources and bail hearing publication bans. I’m inclined to think that the guidance on free speech issues from the Canadian SC tends to be the most thoughtful, […]
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