Keffiyeh a case of disorderly conduct; Nine journos do their block over Cam’s Paris jaunt
The keffiyeh has staged a remarkable comeback as a political prop since war broke out in the Middle East, appearing in potent cameo roles on theatre stages and the floor of federal parliament.
But one realm where the keffiyeh is still a most unwelcome sight is the NSW Supreme Court. Its mere appearance in recent days unleashed fury and led to a grovelling apology from the president of the Law Society to Chief Justice Andrew Bell.
Last Friday, the ceremonial Banco Court inducted a squabble of wide-eyed lawyers and heard from speakers welcoming them to the profession. Under much horsehair and cloaked in silk were not only Bell but Justice Richard White, Justice Natalie Adams and Justice Peter Hamill, and it is no small honour to address these eminences.
Among those tapped to give a brief address was NSW Young Lawyers secretary Seth Harlen, a junior solicitor and social justice activist appearing on behalf of the Law Society. You can bet they’re regretting that decision.
In what can only be described as a misbegotten display of high vanity first and common activism second, Harlen stunned the room by turning up to the proceedings in a keffiyeh and donning it at the lectern. Needless to say, when a now-deleted clip of this stunt was posted online, the outcry from the legal community was swift.
Harlen’s defence went like this: “I am proud to wear the keffiyeh, proud to show what being by a lawyer (sic) means to me personally. I hope with small acts of solidarity like these, we can move towards a more peaceful, fulfilling world.”
Bless his heart. So mortified were the judges that Bell wasted no time putting quill tip to parchment.
He wrote to NSW Law Society president Brett McGrath demanding to know why the court had been hijacked for political purposes.
Judicial mail obviously still travels by horseback, because the letter hadn’t even arrived by Monday morning when McGrath, himself horrified, sought a private meeting with Bell to smooth over the incident.
Asked what happened, McGrath confirmed he’d met with the Chief Justice to apologise.
“The court is a place of political neutrality,” McGrath told Margin Call. “Solicitors appearing in court are not there to express their personal point of view. The Law Society of NSW has apologised to the Chief Justice and reminds its members to respect the courtesies owed to any court in which they appear.”
As for Harlen, he was hauled in for a dressing down on Monday evening and, at this point, it’s doubtful whether he’ll deliver another admissions ceremony. The Supreme Court, too, didn’t need much encouragement to provide remarks. Theirs was a warning shot to anyone else considering similar theatrics.
“The Supreme Court of NSW is and must remain politically neutral on issues of controversy, be they domestic or international, and while individuals, including legal practitioners, are entitled to their own views on such matters, the court is not the venue to showcase those views,” a spokesman said.
“In the circumstances of an obviously highly charged political issue, the wearing of the keffiyeh in court during an important public ceremony by a practitioner who was invited by the court to speak on behalf of the Law Society was highly inappropriate.”
On the Block
Given the looming bloodbath at Nine Entertainment (impending job cuts in the order of 200 positions), journalists have rightfully taken to examining every nickel, every dime, being spent on the ballooning costs of broadcasting from the Paris Olympics.
This includes a decision to dispatch Scott Cam, host of reality-TV series The Block, to the French capital and putting him up at the same five-star hotel where executives and sponsors are laying their heads.
No need to divulge the exact location – security is a problem in Paris at the moment – but the venue isn’t far from where Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest was photographed passionately embracing a certain politician last month.
Some are wondering what Cam and his home-reno show have in common with the 33rd Olympiad. The answer is literally nothing, of course.
Nine told Margin Call it had flown Cam out to promote the 20th anniversary series of The Block, which will screen once the Games are through.
So you can see why guillotine-facing journalists back home are ready to wear the boss’s skin.
Nine’s reminder
Meanwhile, Nine spinner Vic Buchan, currently in Paris, hauled in the broadcast team for tea and bikkies on Wednesday to issue a friendly reminder not to muck around with any social media that could bring the company disrepute. Ironic, of course, given CEO Mike Sneesby’s total failure to hearken similarly basic advice and persist with a dubious decision to play torchbearer during the Olympic relay – just as his workforce votes to go on strike. Buchan told Margin Call she spoke to staff about a range of topics. “I did say be careful on your posts, personal safety is paramount for our people.”
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