Latest news with #StephenFranks
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
High Court Judge Urged To Consider Public Trust In McSkimming Case ‘Superinjunction' Decision
Press Release – Free Speech Union Even if a powerful individual is not charged or is found not guilty, the public should still have access to the facts in order to make their own informed judgments about his character. The High Court judge has reserved her decision on whether to maintain the 'superinjunction' in Jevon McSkimming's case, which currently disables the media and public from discussing the details. The Free Speech Union urges the Court to consider the damage to public trust caused by excessive secrecy, says Stephen Franks, Free Speech Union Council Member. 'The Court should uphold the speech rights of all New Zealanders by allowing the media, and therefore the public, to scrutinise matters of genuine public interest. The public should be free to discuss the conduct of their officials and form their own opinions on matters. 'The media play a crucial role in enabling Kiwis to seek and receive information. The High Court set a dangerous precedent by limiting this freedom. The public's ability to discuss cases should be prioritised in court decisions. 'Even if a powerful individual is not charged or is found not guilty, the public should still have access to the facts in order to make their own informed judgments about his character. 'We urge the judge to consider the full weight of the damage done to public trust in courts, lawyers, and judges when they act as if only they can be trusted, while the 'little people' are kept in the dark. 'Suppression is bad, whatever the outcome.'
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
High Court Judge Urged To Consider Public Trust In McSkimming Case ‘Superinjunction' Decision
The High Court judge has reserved her decision on whether to maintain the 'superinjunction' in Jevon McSkimming's case, which currently disables the media and public from discussing the details. The Free Speech Union urges the Court to consider the damage to public trust caused by excessive secrecy, says Stephen Franks, Free Speech Union Council Member. 'The Court should uphold the speech rights of all New Zealanders by allowing the media, and therefore the public, to scrutinise matters of genuine public interest. The public should be free to discuss the conduct of their officials and form their own opinions on matters. 'The media play a crucial role in enabling Kiwis to seek and receive information. The High Court set a dangerous precedent by limiting this freedom. The public's ability to discuss cases should be prioritised in court decisions. 'Even if a powerful individual is not charged or is found not guilty, the public should still have access to the facts in order to make their own informed judgments about his character. 'We urge the judge to consider the full weight of the damage done to public trust in courts, lawyers, and judges when they act as if only they can be trusted, while the 'little people' are kept in the dark. 'Suppression is bad, whatever the outcome.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Court-Backed Gag Order In McSkimming Case Deepens Concerns For Public Discourse And Institutional Trust
Press Release – Free Speech Union This was an outrageous decision by the High Court. An individuals wish for secrecy must not come at the cost of public confidence in an open and transparent justice system. News that the Former Deputy Police Commissioner obtained a 'super injunction' (now partially lifted) restricting press from reporting on allegedly inappropriate use of his work computer is of great concern for public discourse and institutional trust says Stephen Franks,Free Speech Union Council Member. 'It's emerged that on Friday, McSkimming received a rare 'super injunction' that prohibited media not only from reporting on the allegedly objectionable material found on his work computer, but also the fact he'd sought the injunction. 'This was an outrageous decision by the High Court. An individual's wish for secrecy must not come at the cost of public confidence in an open and transparent justice system. 'Free speech ensures that the media can report on cases like McSkimming's, and that the public can scrutinise the actions of officials and decide for themselves whether that conduct is unacceptable or not. Without being free to discuss these matters of public interest, the media, public, and watchdogs lose the ability to assess if and how systems within the Police force failed and if reforms are needed. 'Just last week, we welcomed an IPCA report that found the Police had lied about the details of an unlawful arrest of a protester. And now, we have the High Court issuing a gag order to restrict reporting on a different case related to Police conduct. 'A service we can't trust, coupled with gag orders by the High Court, is a disaster-in-waiting. Transparency and the ability to discuss the conduct of our officials is essential if New Zealand is to trust its key institutions. 'The High Court should be defending Kiwis' rights to seek, receive and impart information, not limiting it, especially when it's related to how Police are using public time and resources.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Court-Backed Gag Order In McSkimming Case Deepens Concerns For Public Discourse And Institutional Trust
Press Release – Free Speech Union This was an outrageous decision by the High Court. An individuals wish for secrecy must not come at the cost of public confidence in an open and transparent justice system. News that the Former Deputy Police Commissioner obtained a 'super injunction' (now partially lifted) restricting press from reporting on allegedly inappropriate use of his work computer is of great concern for public discourse and institutional trust says Stephen Franks,Free Speech Union Council Member. 'It's emerged that on Friday, McSkimming received a rare 'super injunction' that prohibited media not only from reporting on the allegedly objectionable material found on his work computer, but also the fact he'd sought the injunction. 'This was an outrageous decision by the High Court. An individual's wish for secrecy must not come at the cost of public confidence in an open and transparent justice system. 'Free speech ensures that the media can report on cases like McSkimming's, and that the public can scrutinise the actions of officials and decide for themselves whether that conduct is unacceptable or not. Without being free to discuss these matters of public interest, the media, public, and watchdogs lose the ability to assess if and how systems within the Police force failed and if reforms are needed. 'Just last week, we welcomed an IPCA report that found the Police had lied about the details of an unlawful arrest of a protester. And now, we have the High Court issuing a gag order to restrict reporting on a different case related to Police conduct. 'A service we can't trust, coupled with gag orders by the High Court, is a disaster-in-waiting. Transparency and the ability to discuss the conduct of our officials is essential if New Zealand is to trust its key institutions. 'The High Court should be defending Kiwis' rights to seek, receive and impart information, not limiting it, especially when it's related to how Police are using public time and resources.'
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Court-Backed Gag Order In McSkimming Case Deepens Concerns For Public Discourse And Institutional Trust
News that the Former Deputy Police Commissioner obtained a 'super injunction' (now partially lifted) restricting press from reporting on allegedly inappropriate use of his work computer is of great concern for public discourse and institutional trust says Stephen Franks,Free Speech Union Council Member. 'It's emerged that on Friday, McSkimming received a rare 'super injunction' that prohibited media not only from reporting on the allegedly objectionable material found on his work computer, but also the fact he'd sought the injunction. 'This was an outrageous decision by the High Court. An individual's wish for secrecy must not come at the cost of public confidence in an open and transparent justice system. 'Free speech ensures that the media can report on cases like McSkimming's, and that the public can scrutinise the actions of officials and decide for themselves whether that conduct is unacceptable or not. Without being free to discuss these matters of public interest, the media, public, and watchdogs lose the ability to assess if and how systems within the Police force failed and if reforms are needed. 'Just last week, we welcomed an IPCA report that found the Police had lied about the details of an unlawful arrest of a protester. And now, we have the High Court issuing a gag order to restrict reporting on a different case related to Police conduct. 'A service we can't trust, coupled with gag orders by the High Court, is a disaster-in-waiting. Transparency and the ability to discuss the conduct of our officials is essential if New Zealand is to trust its key institutions. 'The High Court should be defending Kiwis' rights to seek, receive and impart information, not limiting it, especially when it's related to how Police are using public time and resources.'
