Public Trials (LAWS30024)

Public Trials is taking a one-year pause during 2026 for a curriculum refresh. We plan to relaunch in 2027 with updated assessment and learning outcomes.

 

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Trials play an important role in the drama of public life. Their study enables a contextual exploration of how law is constructed and performed. The guiding questions of this subject are: what happens in the trial? And what does the trial represent for the political community within which it takes place? The subject explores these questions through a range of high profile or exemplary trials in state and commonwealth, national and international, jurisdictions.

The key themes addressed through the in-depth study of public trials in this subject are:

• The use of trials to respond to situations of injustice and social instability;
• How trials generate stories of nationhood and political identity;
• The role of trials in reforming law and transforming the event to which they respond; and
• What the drama of the specific trial reveals about the community in which it is staged.

After introducing the nature of public trials the subject turns to a consideration of exemplary trials, both contemporary and historical, from various jurisdictions. An indicative sample may include the following famous trials.

• The Eichmann Trial (Jerusalem 1961);
• The Communist Party Case (Melbourne 1950-1951);
• Lindy Chamberlain trials (1981-1983);
• The Tampa case (Ruddock v Vardarlis, 2001);
• Tasmanian Dams case, 1983;
• Nulyrimma and Thompson (Australian genocide case), 1999;
• Mabo (1992);
• Brown v Board of Education, USA, 1954;
• The David Hicks Military Commission hearing, 2007;
• Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquiry and Zachary Rolfe trial, 2022; and
• OJ Simpson trials (criminal and civil), 1995-2007.