[Submitted] Show Trial

[Fontenais]

Note: There was Fat Tony, Morbidly Obese Tony and Actually Quite Slim Tony, now get ready to meet… Buff Tony

Description:

Previously untouchable mob boss Buff Tony was recently arrested by the @@DENONYM@@ police following a sting operation. Buff Tony has been charged with numerous offences including extortion, racketeering, and money laundering, and there has been debate as to whether the media should be allowed to film the proceedings.

Validity: Must not have the ‘no judiciary’ policy

Option 1:

"Buff Tony is rumoured to have a long arm, and there are legitimate concerns that the trial will be corrupted" states television producer @@RANDOMNAME_1@@. "The judiciary is only just where it is held accountable by the people, but it's impractical for most @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ to attend court in person. The media is a powerful conduit to the public and should be allowed to film in court to promote fairness in the judicial system."

Effect: @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ are disappointed that court isn’t as exciting as the movies make it out to be

Option 2:

"Allowing the media to film in court will be making a circus out of a serious process" counters courtroom sketch artist @@RANDOMNAME_2@@. "The parties will inevitably be grandstanding to the TV cameras instead of making a proper case. While I agree that it is in the public interest to allow @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ to witness and report on court proceedings, filming devices should not be permitted in court."

Effect: @@DENONYMPLURAL@@ are remarkably distraught that they can’t bring phones in court

Option 3:

"And what about the rights of my client to privacy?" exclaims the lawyer for Buff Tony, while surreptitiously sliding a bulging envelope towards you. "Being on trial is distressing enough and it shouldn’t be compounded by parasitic journalists publicizing often embarrassing and intimate details about the defendants. For the sake of decency, the public shouldn’t be allowed to witness, let alone report on, court proceedings."

Effect: What happens in court stays in court

[Australian rePublic]

Why does @@LEADER@@ get to make this decision? Isn't tho one for the courts?

[Fontenais]

Why does @@LEADER@@ get to make this decision? Isn't tho one for the courts?

I think it would fall on the side of a decision for Leader to make
In Australia, anyway, whether filming devices can be used in court, and whether Court should be open or not, are both set up in legislation (by Parliament)
I had a squiz at the Federal Court Rules (rules Judges have made about procedure in court) and it's practically all administrative stuff - fixing of time for court, rules for faxing a document, etc

But, in certain cases, Judges do have discretion to have some cases in closed court, i.e. certain sexual offences, children, witness protection. It's interesting, but it's a more nuanced approach. It was far easier to look at just the "standard rule" instead of also considering exceptions but I think that could be a very valid consequence

[SherpDaWerp]

It might make a good fourth option - let judges decide on a case-by-case basis whether trials can be filmed.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

I like it. You've come a long way as a writer in a short space of time, well done.

[Fontenais]

It might make a good fourth option - let judges decide on a case-by-case basis whether trials can be filmed.

I did consider this but I thought it might be a "too reasonable" option that everyone would pick - but an effect line could be "Judges only allow filming in court when they're having a good hair day"

I like it. You've come a long way as a writer in a short space of time, well done.

Aww, I'm blushing. But don't expect too much consistency I'm still very much a newbie

[Fontenais]

Any further comments?

[Candlewhisper Archive]

I've got a gap waiting in my editing folder. Submit it and telegram me, and I'll get straight on it.

[Fontenais]

I've submitted, thanks everyone for your help

[Australian rePublic]

Good Luck!