The National Legal Eagle

Who’s Who in the Legal Zoo: The Jury

Jodie O'Leary — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:41 PDT

Extract:

Juries have been portrayed in movies, such as The Juror and the much earlier 12 Angry Men, depicted in books (particularly by John Grisham), such as The Last Juror or Runaway Jury, and featured in television programs like Law and Order. Most of us in the common law world know someone who served on one (or at least got a notice to attend jury duty). But what do you really know about this institution that has been described as ‘the lamp that shows that freedom lives’ or the ‘sacred bulwark’ of liberty?

What is Victims of Crime Compensation?

Craig Smith — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:40 PDT

Extract:

In the early 1990s an international convention focused on victims of crime, resulting in international pressure on governments to implement corresponding legislation. Consequently, governments in each Australian State and Territory developed laws and procedures to render assistance to victims of crime.

A Flood of Inspiration: The 2011 Bond Law High School Mooting Competition

David Field — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:39 PDT

Extract:

When 2011 announced its arrival in Queensland with the worst floods on record, it was difficult to imagine that anything good could come out of it. Unless, that is, you have the job of drafting a new problem for the High School Mooting Competition which Bond Law sponsors every year. As the person occupying that particular bed of nails I like to make the problem scenarios topical and as I watched residents being plucked from rooftops, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane with his sleeves rolled up directing clean-up operations, and the Foreign Minister touring his home constituency in gumboots, I had the germ of an idea.

Alternative Translations of Latin Legal Maxims

Tim Jay — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:38 PDT

Torture

Joel Butler — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:37 PDT

Extract:

Is torture ever justified? Should it, in certain circumstances, be lawful to torture someone? And if so, in what circumstances? Who should be allowed to do the torturing – and how?

Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Quiz about Police Powers

Elizabeth Greene et al. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:36 PDT

Extract:

These are some of the classic phrases we associate with the police stemming mostly from television shows rather than real life experience. But what is the true scope of police power?

Batman and the Rule of Law

Joel Butler — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:36 PDT

Extract:

No, this is not the title of the latest episode of the caped crusader’s adventures in the soon-to-be-released next edition of DC Comics. ‘What then’, you ask, ‘is an article about Batman doing in a magazine that is meant to be all about the law?’ My response is that Batman has everything to do with the law!

Marriage and Cohabitation Contracts

John Wade — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:35 PDT

Extract:

Hollywood films and movie stars sometimes mention ‘pre-nups’ or ‘marriage contracts’. What are these mysterious documents? One description is that a marriage or cohabitation agreement is a written record of the expectations of a married or cohabitating couple in relation to lifestyle and finances which is entered into before and sometimes during marital cohabitation. In limited circumstances, certain parts of such agreements are legally enforceable. In some countries and cultures, including South Africa and Quebec, marriage contracts are common amongst the wealthy.

Editorial

Jodie O'Leary et al. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:08:34 PDT

What is Sentencing?

Elizabeth Greene — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:43:57 PDT

Extract:

Sentencing in legal terms means ‘any penalty or imprisonment ordered to be paid or served, or any other order made by a court after an offender is convicted, whether or not a conviction has been recorded.’ That is, in slightly more straightforward terms, imposing a punishment or penalty for an offence of which an accused person has been convicted following a trial, or has pleaded guilty.