Contempt of court - Week 3

Question 1

Absolute privilege in court reporting

Answer 1

• report anything that is said in court (on most occasions)
• as long as fair, accurate, and contemporaneous
• in crown court: a judge must be present
• if not, may be sued for libel (defamatory statement that lowers reputation of claimant in the eyes of right-thinking society)

Question 2

S.4 of Contempt of Court Act (1981)

Answer 2

Contemporary reports of proceedings
- Journalists is not guilty if report is fair, accurate, contemporary report of a public proceeding

Question 3

Exceptions to Contempt of Court Act
- Law of Contempt of Court

Answer 3

• can’t always identify all involved in a case and can’t report everything police has said before trial (because of Law of Contempt of Court)