Category Archives: General articles

Articles relevant to the subject of wrongful convictions

The wrongful conviction that harms children

Posted on September 2, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. Why am I writing about climate change on a blog devoted to wrongful convictions? My justification is that carbon dioxide has been wrongfully convicted of causing global warming, according to climate scientists, and the alarmism is causing … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 5 Comments

CCRC would relieve politicians of impossible choice

Posted on August 13, 2023 by andrew

As things stand, politicians burdened with the responsibilities of Attorney-General often face the impossible choice of advising the relevant Governor on petitions from innocents convicted of sexual abuse. It should not be their choice; legal matters should stay within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 06 'Paul', Case 22 Noel Greenaway, CCRC, General articles | 26 Comments

Sofronoff doesn’t go far enough on disclosure reform – Selby

Posted on August 12, 2023 by andrew

The recently released Sofronoff Report into the ACT Criminal Justice System’s handling of the Brittany Higgins rape allegation against Bruce Lehrmann recommends legislation to codify the scope and content of the obligation of disclosure owed by the prosecution in criminal … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 7 Comments

SPECIAL REPORT – Prosecutors ‘straining impermissibly for a conviction’: eight examples

Posted on August 4, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. Walter Sofronoff KC’s damning findings revealed this week of reprehensible behaviour by ACT DPP Shane Drumgold, is the tip of an iceberg that threatens the criminal justice system. In the words of judges, lawyers and legal academics, … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 24 Comments

Has ICAC found Gladys Berejiklian Clayton’s corrupt?

Posted on June 29, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. June 29, 2023: Investigating a third NSW Premier, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has found former Premier Gladys Berejiklian engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’. But not corrupt enough to recommend the matter to the Director of Public … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 9 Comments

A key piece of criminal justice infrastructure is missing

Posted on June 21, 2023 by andrew

Professor David Hamer and Dr Andrew Dyer from Sydney Law School explain why Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon points to the need for a Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in Australia. 

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg, CCRC, General articles | 25 Comments

Comment moderators in conflict with editorial at The Australian?

Posted on June 17, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. Are the gatekeepers of reader comments on The Australian – the moderators –  in ideological conflict with the editors? 

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann, General articles | 3 Comments

Chris Minns should reinstate rule of law re ICAC

Posted on April 21, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban Former NSW premiers Barry O’Farrell, Mike Baird and Dominic Perrottet all failed to protect the rule of law as it relates to ICAC; “The law was changed to protect wrongdoers,” and new Premier Chris Minns has a … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 6 Comments

‘I know we’re innocent … these things just did not happen’

Posted on April 1, 2023 by andrew

A jailed NSW couple protest their innocence as a new podcast – Shadow of Doubt – investigates their convictions for ‘depraved’ abuse. By RICHARD GUILLIATT in The Weekend Australian (April 1&2, 2023) 

Posted in Case 21 'Mr & Mrs X', General articles | 7 Comments

Stonewalling 101: the legal system’s dirty little secret

Posted on March 29, 2023 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban Under the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers, parliaments make laws, the executive administers and enforces laws, and the judiciary adjudicates disputes about the law. The judiciary is thus insulated from outside oversight; that’s a good … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 4 Comments