Richard Ackland
Richard Ackland publishes the law journals Justinian and Gazette of Law and Journalism. He is a Gold Walkley winner and a former host of Media Watch and Radio National's Late Night Live. He has written on law and lawyers for 40 years. He is a graduate in economics and law and has been admitted as a legal practitioner to the supreme court of NSW.
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On Friday Donald Trump will pledge to meet the high demands the presidential office. The sacred US constitution is in for a blistering time
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Recent times have seen some big names before the law. Richard Ackland reviews Australia’s recent legal triumphs and tragedies
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There are many reasons we should pursue an Australian republic that have nothing to do with who has the crown
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All public broadcasters are engaged in a constant process of chopping, slicing and reinventing, and every boss spreads his or her own brand of unhappiness
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Lost on the story of the attorney general, George Brandis, former solicitor general, Justin Gleeson, and the Western Australian government? Here it is, explained
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New South Wales politicians have long feared and detested the country’s most formidable corruption-busting body
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To demand the dilution of hate laws while opposing a regime of contestable human rights shows how bizarre and dishonest this issue has become
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Day has sparked a Senate crisis this week. A close look at his history shows that none of this should come as a surprise
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There are a number of uncertainties and confusions about holding refugees in pitiable Pacific states – here are the answers to the questions I regularly hear
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When Mike Baird did a U-turn on greyhounds, maybe he had a permanent loop from Alan Jones running in his brain, saying that he was wrong, wrong, wrong
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George Brandis told parliament he consulted with the solicitor general before making changes to his role. But FOI documents appear to paint a different picture
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The land registry is crucial to the protection of people’s most precious possession. Its privatisation could make expensive title insurance a necessity
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End of 30-year statutory embargo could provide a treasure trove of information dealing with alleged misbehaviour of the former high court justice
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The Guardian Australia columnist goes in pursuit of a late-night sharpener and talks to bar staff about navigating baffling after-hours regulations
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It’s understandable that independent news organisations hate being censored but automation in news only looks certain to continue
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The latest Icac ruling shows the body is succeeding in its role to uncover corruption. Why then does the intense criticism of it continue?
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Free speech is free speech, say those committed to repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Except, perhaps, for when it comes to their personal interests?
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Nothing should be taken for granted - not the vote on same sex marriage, and not even the legislation which purports to give us that vote
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In high-profile court cases there is much we never get to hear about. Do we wrap our jurors in cotton wool, and what is the public’s right to know?
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At an election debate between the attorney general and his opposition counterpart, George Brandis brushed off comments that his tenure had been controversial
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Don’t let it pass without notice – government ministers can no longer seek advice from the solicitor general without the attorney general’s approval
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Why has the attorney general been absent from the campaign trail ? Richard Ackland joins Bridie Jabour to discuss this and why Australia’s legal aid funding is so low that it’s actually costing taxpayers more
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In defence of wearing wigs, members of the bar appear to believe that fashion began and ended in 1663. What if other professionals wigged up?
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The right of journalists to protect their sources is being assaulted by the courts, where many judges have long held a sniffy antipathy towards the media
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Election 2016 is just as manufactured and banal as the campaigns that came before it. In the race to win the day, voters are the only losers
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Some outrageous police-friendly legislation has just wormed its way through New South Wales parliament, and the prospect of some heavy-handed policing is real
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The closure of Manus Island offers Australia’s hapless politicians the opportunity to work with Indonesia on a sensible solution to boat arrivals
Amber Harrison's battle with Seven lifts lid on a cowboy corporate culture