Why is Twitter seen as such a challenge to the justice system? It’s all about information, and who controls it. Even in the digital age, the courts still wield enormous power. When a reporter walks into court he or she has to be aware of a series of restrictions. You can’t give your opinion on …
Category archives: The Justice System
Stenography and Charles Dickens
This week the BBC reported – in its own strange way – that court proceedings will be digitally recorded instead of taken down by dedicated stenographers. This could be said to bring an end to a tradition going back to the 17th Century. It’s also quite a sad goodbye to a profession that has included …
Open Justice and Court Reporting: Dull or Drama?
At its best the courtroom provides compelling drama of the kind rarely seen on TV. On any given day you can witness anger, grief, happiness, apathy, despair and disbelief, sometimes from the same person. There are performances of great skill alongside acts of sheer incompetence. Decisions are made which affect lives for many years, if …
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Off the Map: The tragic case of Mahesh Mehta
One of the most common complaints about the justice system is that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Either the sentence is too lenient or the law fails to reflect the seriousness of an offence. The death of 55 year-old businessman Mahesh Mehta is a case in point. The fruit… You must be a paid …
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Teddy Highwood: Family of murder victim ‘failed by police and the IPCC’
Where do you go when you believe you have been failed by the police in their handling of a murder enquiry? This is the story of one family’s decision to complain to the Independent Complaints Commission. Seventy-nine year-old Teddy Highwood was bludgeoned to death at his home on July 17, 2009. His killer, 20 year-old …
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