The jury in mushroom cook Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial has retired to deliberate the verdict, guilty or not guilty. But what happens in there behind closed doors? When they retire to the deliberation room, should they leave all of their personal beliefs and prejudices at the door? And is this even possible? How does it work? In this episode from our special series Inside the Jury Room which first aired in 2018 Damien Carrick sets out to find the answer.
Jul 03, 2025
US President Donald Trump has praised a landmark Supreme Court ruling that struck down 'universal injunctions' issued by lower court judges, made in response to his executive order on birthright citizenship. What are the implications for numerous Trump administration policies blocked by court injunctions? And for the legal boundaries of presidential power?
Jul 01, 2025•29 min
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf has won her unlawful termination case against the ABC. The Federal Court found the ABC contravened the Fair Work Act by terminating her employment, for reasons "including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza".
Jun 25, 2025
The Federal Court has ruled that the ABC wrongfully dismissed journalist Antoinette Lattouf for reasons including that she "held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza." In this special episode, the Law Report looks at what the verdict means for the ABC, and employers and employees more generally.
Jun 25, 2025
Warren Tredrea, a prominent Adelaide football personality who unsuccessfully sued Channel 9 for unfair dismissal, has argued in court that his legal debt to the media organisation was settled with a written IOU note. Is this an example of 'pseudolaw'? And how do pseudolegal arguments impact on the courts' work?
Jun 24, 2025•29 min
Huge property loss is upending the lives of communities in flood-hit parts of New South Wales — what's happening to the rise in insurance claims in areas prone to flooding? And a look back at 50 years of the Australian Racial Discrimination Act.
Jun 17, 2025•29 min
Can art change lives? Confined 16 is an exhibition in Melbourne of First Nations artists who picked up the paint brush while they were in prison.
Jun 10, 2025•29 min
The return of high-profile whistleblowing cases to court has renewed calls for legislative reform in Australia to better protect, provide oversight and support to, those who expose wrongdoing in the public and private sectors.
Jun 03, 2025•29 min
A Victorian woman is on trial accused of poisoning her lunch guests by serving them a meal laced with death cap mushrooms. And a Tasmanian couple banned from taking their alpaca into a supermarket is accusing the store of disability discrimination.
May 27, 2025•29 min
Does pill testing save lives? Damien Carrick visits a pop-up service at a Melbourne music event where substances are checked, and staff talk to partygoers about reducing risk when using drugs.
May 20, 2025•29 min
In 2016, Queensland was the first Australian jurisdiction create a stand-alone offence of non-fatal strangulation. Since then, every other state and territory has followed its lead - most recently Victoria. Almost a decade on, the Queensland Law Reform Commission is conducting an inquiry into the offence.
May 13, 2025•29 min
What's behind the Labor Party's overwhelming election victory? And can AI-based technology be used to discriminate against job applicants?
May 06, 2025•29 min
Two recent court decisions could help shape the debate, and perhaps the law, on when children can be given puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy.
Apr 29, 2025•29 min
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.
Apr 22, 2025•29 min
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.
Apr 15, 2025•28 min
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?
Apr 08, 2025•29 min
The Trump administration's clashes with the US judicial system are escalating, and two federal judges are in the eye of the storm.
Apr 01, 2025•28 min
An emoji, a protest placard and a tweet by a soccer fan have all led to criminal charges in Britain. Were the prosecutions appropriate?
Mar 25, 2025•29 min
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.
Mar 18, 2025•29 min
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.
Mar 11, 2025•29 min
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.
Mar 04, 2025•29 min
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.
Feb 25, 2025•29 min
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?
Feb 18, 2025•29 min
Australia's new hate crime laws introduce mandatory sentencing for convictions over public displays of hate symbols and terror-related crimes. And prosecutors drop a murder charge against a woman who argued she was asleep when she fatally stabbed her husband.
Feb 11, 2025•29 min
Members of a fringe religious group in Queensland have been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of a child. And can you sue your employer if disciplinary processes at work cause your mental health to deteriorate?
Feb 04, 2025•29 min
The Kimberley Land Council is being approached by several native title groups keen to follow in the footsteps of Western Australia's Karajarri people, who have achieved a legal first.
Jan 28, 2025•29 min
The Law Report looks at the legal fallout from the devastating fires across Los Angeles. And who can be held liable for catastrophic bushfire damage in Australia?
Jan 21, 2025•29 min
When there's a dispute over the medical treatment of a gravely sick child, who gets the ultimate say?
Jan 14, 2025•29 min
How are NDAs used by lawyers in the settlement of sexual harassment claims?
Jan 07, 2025•29 min
This year, the Supreme Court of New South Wales celebrated its 200th birthday.
Dec 31, 2024•29 min
