As a journalist am I prevented from talking or writing about a court case?

• The general public has an endless fascination with what goes on in court cases.
• While the public has a right to know how our system of justice is administered there are limits controlling how a journalist can report on court hearings.
• Our laws of contempt impose limitations on the reporting power of the media in order to protect an accused person’s right to a fair and impartial trial.
• These laws also seek to maintain the authority and integrity of our court system.

• Contempt laws are complex in nature. If you have any other questions about how they apply in a specific situation you can use our free and anonymous Ask a Lawyer service.