Law Report

The Hon. Debbie Mortimer, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, joins Damien Carrick in a conversation about live streaming court cases, suppression orders and access to court documents.

A Queensland man convicted of murder has failed to convince the High Court to strike out laws that were used to deny him parole for refusing to cooperate with authorities searching for one of his victims. And the fate of endangered forest glider possums could be a little safer following a ruling that allows a community environmental group to prosecute the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales.

U.S President Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs has sent shockwaves through the world economy, but are these liberation day tariffs constitutional? Meanwhile, in the federal budget, the government included a surprise announcement that it will ban certain non-compete clauses. What will this mean for small businesses as well as low wage employees?

The Trump administration's clashes with the US judicial system are escalating, and two federal judges are in the eye of the storm.

Ife Thompson, a barrister focused on racial and language justice, and Abbena Uw Subempa, an LSE professor studying the intersection of rap and law, discuss the complexities of language and identity in legal cases. They dissect high-profile prosecutions in Britain, highlighting cultural misunderstandings around language use and its impact on racial identity. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for a culturally sensitive legal framework, especially in cases involving artistic expression and linguistic rights, shedding light on how race shapes legal perceptions.

How can we improve the experience of survivors of sexual assault in the legal system? The Australian Law Reform Commission has released the findings of a major inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence. 

The federal opposition has vowed to roll back remote work entitlements for public servants if it wins the next election — a policy the Labor government says was stolen from US president Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of a dad who wanted an extra "work from home" day.

What steps does a mentally ill offender have to take to convince authorities they no longer pose a risk to the community or to themselves? And the Federal Court has heard closing arguments in the high-profile employment law dispute between freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf and the ABC.

To what extent should police be allowed to hack into phones, computers and encrypted communication to counter online crime? And new research says private practitioners are abandoning Legal Aid work.

The High Court has ruled that all judges have immunity from civil action over decisions handed down in court. And how did a Sydney baby food company score a rare legal win against global supermarket giant Aldi?