11 November 2008
Tuesday Transcript: High Court TV reviews
For this, the inaugural instalment of Tuesday Transcript, a reminder that even High Court judges take time away from drafting judgments. In IceTV v Nine Network, counsel for the respondent was explaining how his client would sometimes make late programming changes, after the TV guides had gone to print:
MR BANNON: … But just looking at that as an example, if someone wants to watch – if they carried on with their exercise — the “Kings of Comedy”, they end up getting “What’s Good for You”. They want “Midsomer Murders” and they get “Money”.
FRENCH CJ: Was Midsomer Murders showing on Channel Nine then, was it?
MR BANNON: I think so, yes.
FRENCH CJ: It is an ABC program. Perhaps it migrated — the other way.
MR BANNON: If it is any good on ABC it usually ends up on the commercial network.
HEYDON J: This is a reverse process. It is now on Channel Two.
MR BANNON: They have had it for a while, then.
HEYDON J: Perhaps it is too good for Channel Nine.
It appears that Justice Heydon and our new Chief Justice French are fans of the cosy mystery show — in stark contrast with Chief Justice Roberts of the US Supreme Court, who likes his judgments hardboiled.
Related posts:
- Tuesday Transcript: Reality-based decision-making
- Tuesday Transcript: Cut Your Losses
- Tuesday Transcript: Hats off in court, please
- Tuesday Transcript: Pipe Down
- Tuesday Transcript: Know Your Teabag
