"If the defence had a 'knockout' blow they had to raise it with Bruce during their cross-examination. That never happened. It follows they have no 'we-gotcha' evidence." Legal columnist HUGH SELBY reports from the theatre of litigation.
Hugh Selby
Hugh Selby is the "CityNews" legal affairs commentator. His free podcasts on "Witness Essentials" and "Advocacy in court: preparation and performance" can be heard on the best known podcast sites.
Legal affairs writer and former barrister HUGH SELBY says the presumption of innocence is dead and buried. It has been inverted. It is now a presumption of guilt unless and until a court finds the accused "not guilty".
"Mark Dreyfus has promoted his place as a proponent of whistleblower protection law. But his actions this week are in stark contradiction," writes legal columnist HUGH SELBY.
Because the great majority of criminal cases are finalised with sentencing following a plea of guilty, the public hears too little about the vital role of crime-scene examiners and forensic scientists, writes HUGH SELBY.
Legal columnist HUGH SELBY looks down the checklist to see how Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is performing. The results are underwhelming...
"If he is fair dinkum, then Rattenbury will amend his new law to have a single judge decide if there are sufficient grounds to have the territory properly fund those preparing a 'second appeal' for a prisoner," writes HUGH SELBY.
"Rattenbury's so-called reform to criminalise juror initiative shows just how out of touch he is with today’s society and criminal law processes." HUGH SELBY imagines a what-if event for 2025.
"The Australian" has run an open attack on ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum, selectively quoting from recent speeches in which she reveals a view about some wrongs meted out to indigenous Australians. She's owed an apology, says HUGH SELBY.
"They rarely serve those who bring complaints to them. They serve those about whom complaints are made." Welcome to judicial commission world. "CityNews" legal affairs writer HUGH SELBY explains why we need a national one.
HUGH SELBY overhears Alf and Ernie, a couple of beachside retirees who can only agree on one thing – the inalienable right to disagree.
Legal columnist HUGH SELBY worries about what he's hearing at the ACT Integrity Commission's public hearings into the the tender for building works at Campbell Primary School.
The ACT Integrity Commission continues its probe into the tender for Campbell Primary School. Legal columnist HUGH SELBY says there were lots of observations but no progress in dealing with who caused the tender process to miscarry?
