F-unconscionable?

This is the third post in 4 months with an “f-word” theme. In part it demonstrates that we have moved on from obscene language in Adelaide in 1979. It is also topical with the Banking Royal Commission in full swing. The use of the “f-word” was...

Dark Look

The headnote of Hargraves v Eveston [2018] NSWSC 505 says it all.  It was, according to Hamill J, “unpleasant litigation” where Mrs Hargraves sued her daughter for $1.7M. The warring parties were the only witnesses and “neither presented as a witness...

Indecent Language

In January 1972, Kim Dalton was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for using indecent language. He had apparently used the three words “f**k”, “f**ked” and “c**t” in Elder Park (an inner city Adelaide park on the banks of the...

The Mention

Apparently true  story (relayed to me by a reliable source) of a recent mention which occurred in Court 5.2 at the Downing Centre Local Court: Solicitor:     “May I mention the matter of Fu?” Magistrate: “How do I spell that” Solicitor:      ...

Habeas Corpus

In April 2017, Justice Lucy McCallum had to deal with an urgent out of hours application for the issue of a writ of habeas corpus. The petitioner apparently stubbornly refused/ignored her Honour’s “hints” that a bail application would be better...

The Third Time

On Australia Day, Radio National’s Law Report replayed an episode about the birth and development of our legal system. How did our democracy and strong independent legal system evolve from a bunch of desperate convicts and their jailers? This post was inspired...