Public Trials (LAWS30024)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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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.

Intended learning outcomes

A student who has successfully completed this subject should have an understanding of the role of legal trials in political and public life, and the lessons that can be drawn about law, politics and justice.

Specifically, the student will be able to reflect on and evaluate:

  • How trials work as forms of political story-telling;
  • The historical transformation of law through trials;
  • The significance of law for social change and social activism; and
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to law.

In addition, a student will have obtained:

  • An appreciation of the distinctive procedure and function of courts;
  • A transnational and comparative understanding of the trial;
  • In depth knowledge of at least one public trial and to analyse public trials from a variety of perspectives; and
  • The capacity to conduct independent research about law and its relation to historical, social and political context.

Generic skills

  • Capacity for self-directed learning, specifically the ability to plan work and use time effectively;
  • Cognitive and analytical skills;
  • Ability to speak about complex ideas in a clear and cogent manner;
  • An awareness of diversity and plurality
  • Skills to write essays which develop structured argumentation; and
  • Capacity to judge the worth of their own arguments.

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Class participation

Throughout the teaching period10%

Topic proposal

  • 1000 words
Week 715%

Research essay

  • 3000 words
Due in the first week of examination period75%

Additional details

More information on the above assessment will be available to students via the LMS Canvas space for this subject.

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorAnn Genovese
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours• 2 hour lecture • 1 hour in person tutorial
    Total time commitment144 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 November 2025

    Semester 2 contact information

    Teaching staff: 

    Ann Genovese (Subject Coordinator) 

    For undergraduate student enquiries, contact us

Time commitment details

144 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 20 March 2025