April 2023
Stay out of court, says outgoing chief justice
Federal Court chief justice James Allsop is leaving the job convinced that smart business people avoid court.
- Michael Pelly
May 2021
Porter barrister warned against acting for him against ABC
A barrister acting for Christian Porter called the action to stop Sue Chrysanthou from acting for him a “storm in a teacup”.
- Max Mason
April 2021
- Analysis
- Hearsay
Should judges decide if they are biased?
A curiosity of the legal system is that the person being accused of bias gets to make a ruling about whether they are or not. Moves for change are afoot.
- Michael Pelly
January 2021
Defamation plaintiffs on a roll
Elaine Stead’s victory over The Australian Financial Review has continued a run of adverse judgments against media outlets.
- Michael Pelly
July 2020
Daily Telegraph loses $2.9m Rush appeal
The newspaper has lost its appeal over a court ruling that it defamed Hollywood actor Geoffrey Rush.
- Liz Main and Max Mason
April 2020
Boris Johnson admitted to hospital as Queen rallies UK
The British government said the Prime Minister would undergo tests after suffering symptoms for 10 days, and would continue to carry out his duties.
- Updated
- Mark Landler
February 2020
- Analysis
- MeToo movement
Australia still awaits its Weinstein moment
Will the judgment on the disgraced US media mogul convince women to come forward in Australia? Not likely.
- Michael Pelly
November 2019
Jumping the gun on defamation reform
Did Christian Porter steal some thunder from the NSW Attorney-General on defamation reform?
- Michael Pelly
Publisher gets its tone wrong in Rush appeal
Geoffrey Rush's smile at the end of the first day of the Dally Telegraph's appeal said it all.
- Michael Pelly
Judge just didn't believe Eryn Norvill, says Geoffrey Rush counsel
The Daily Telegraph lost the Geoffrey Rush defamation case because the trial judge did not regard its star witness as credible, the Full Federal Court has been told.
- Michael Pelly
Telegraph drops bias claim against Rush judge
The Daily Telegraph has dropped its claim of apprehended basis against the judge in the Geoffrey Rush defamation trial
- Michael Pelly
October 2019
'This is not about the money'
Defamation barrister Matt Collins reveals over Lunch with the AFR he reveals what really motivates his clients - and how Rebel Wilson made him laugh.
- Michael Pelly
May 2019
Geoffrey Rush defamation payout hits $2.9m
Actor Geoffrey Rush has been awarded almost $2 million in lost earnings, bringing the total payout from his defamation battle with The Daily Telegraph to almost $2.9 million.
- Michael Pelly
Witness X in Rush case revealed
Hollywood actress Yael Stone has been revealed as Witness X in Geoffrey Rush's defamation battle with the Daily Telegraph, after the trial judge lifted a suppression order on her identity.
- Michael Pelly
April 2019
- Opinion
- Defamation
When defamation is a tax on free speech
More than ever, reputations are won and lost in the marketplace of free speech, regardless of what judges might decide
- The AFR View
Telling moments for #MeToo in Rush verdict
Geoffrey Rush had a resounding victory in his defamation trial. But it was another story for the #MeToo movement.
- Michael Pelly