The public deserves to know what happened in court nine: David Killick

An ordinary citizen accused of a minor offence would only be shielded from publicity in rare and exceptional circumstances, but when a well-known court justice was the one facing scrutiny, media were locked out of court.

Supreme Court of Tasmania Justice Gregory Geason

Even by Tasmania’s standards of secrecy and opacity, the decision to exclude media from a court hearing involving a Supreme Court judge beggars belief.

Who really knows what happened in courtroom nine in Hobart after hours on Friday?

The media were given eight minutes notice of the hearing. They were confronted by locked doors.

The principles of open justice are nicely summed up in the old adage that justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done. Any first year law student can tell you that.

It is astonishing it has escaped the notice of our court administrators.

The presence of reporters in courtrooms is not a matter of prurient interest, they serve as the eyes and ears of the public.

It is even more important when the rich and powerful are in the dock.

Hobart Magistrates Court, Liverpool St. Images of Hobart CBD, Tasmania. Picture: Richard Jupe

Our courts are independent and our judicial officers have the ability to deprive citizens of their liberty.

They cannot expect to be immune from scrutiny.

What is the nature of the allegations levelled against Justice Geason?

Who was the magistrate?

What were the pleas?

What was said in court?

An ordinary citizen accused of a minor offence would only be shielded from publicity like this in rare and exceptional circumstances.The public has a right to know that justice meted out in their name is administered fairly and without favour.

Is there a risk this could be perceived as a case of someone in the justice system seeking to shield one of their own?

Why was an out-of-hours hearing needed at all?

Every other state manages to afford public access to out-of -hours court hearings. This state manages it sometimes.

The public deserves to know what went on.