Thursday, October 31, 2013

Blogging in the Supreme court sees a new wave of 'citizen journalism'

According to the Guardian, (22 October 2013),  the State of Victoria's Supreme Court is moving with the times.
Court reporting has been around for 100's of years (see the Law Library's set of 'Nominate Reports'), and now they're going to employ a retired judge to blog it.

In a recent speech, "Open  justice in a technological age", Victorian Chief Justice, Marilyn Warren said the court’s new interactive website would become a hub for the court’s communication with the public, who would be able to comment on the website, watch video on demand, debate in online forums, and download judgments and summaries.
She said employing a retired judge to blog the courts represented a “historic shift away from traditional judicial reluctance to explain or defend judicial decisions that are made in accordance with the rule of law”.
Warren added that other experts, including academics and journalists, would also be invited to blog for the court.

Can you imagine that happening here?

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ten most bizarre prison sentences

For all you procrastinating LAWS201 students out there, take a look at Oddees' 10 most bizarre prison sentences.
And if that amuses you, try the 12 most ridiculous lawsuits.
Good luck on Tuesday

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Good Luck for Exams!

Good luck for exams

Good luck for exams

Good luck for exams

Good luck for exams

Good luck for exams

Friday, October 11, 2013

You're dead, Judge tells man

As it's been a while since my last post, and no doubt you're all in 'exam mode' and desperate for some procrastination, so here is some Friday frivolity, from Stuff.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/9271097/You-re-dead-judge-tells-man

An Ohio judge says a man who stood before him in court is still legally dead.
Donald Miller Jr was declared dead in 1994, eight years after he disappeared from his home in the northwest Ohio town of Arcadia.
Miller resurfaced about eight years ago and went to court this week to have the ruling changed.
His former wife opposed the move. She said she didn't have the money to repay the Social Security benefits that were paid out to her and their two children after Miller was declared dead.
The Courier newspaper in Findlay reports that she claims Miller vanished in the 1980s to skip out on child support payments.
A Hancock County judge who denied Miller's request for a reversal of the death ruling called it a "strange, strange situation".
The three-year time limit on the death ruling was clear, Davis said.
"I don't know where that leaves you, but you're still deceased as far as the law is concerned," Davis said.