Just Cases

Just Cases podcast

Each episode of Just Cases explores a different legal case, uncovering the human stories behind the legal battles and the broader implications of these cases on society. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from historical cases to contemporary legal issues, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the law and its impact on everyday life.

Season 1 | Episode 1 | A dagger at the heart of society

In the middle of WW1, the Australian government launches a stinging attack on an international 'extremist' network of German sympathisers. When a policeman is murdered in a small country town, the stage is set for a showdown between his killers and a political system with everything to lose.

Season 1 | Bonus Episode 1 | Chief Justice, is the same-sex marriage postal vote doomed?

What's the High Court challenge to the marriage equality postal vote all about? In this bonus episode Robert French, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, drops by to explore two very similar cases he decided that provide the basis for the current legal challenge.

Season 1 | Episode 2 | Help! I crashed my Uber

In the gig economy our cars, spare rooms and spare time have become handy money-earners. But sometimes things don't go as planned. If you're an Uber driver or Deliveroo cyclist and you injure someone else on the job, who has to cough up the money?

Season 1 | Episode 3 | How you can be detained for life without trial

The story of Ahmed Al-Kateb has far-reaching consequences for individual liberty. Mr Al-Kateb wanted to go home to Palestine, but the High Court decided he could be held indefinitely in Australia despite committing no crime. One constitutional law expert describes this "shocking case" as one which "shows us how even very clever judges sitting on the High Court can sometimes make terrible mistakes".

Season 1 | Episode 4 | They don't teach you this at law school

June 1996. Late at night, two young men cross paths on a Sydney street. When the sun rises the following morning, one of them will be found dead. The events of that evening are murky, but the resulting court case is unprecedented - and we still feel its effects.

Season 2 | Episode 1 | Assault on the sports field

Can you be charged with assault for punching an opponent on the sports field? A violent on-field incident in the Australian Football League (AFL) has led to calls for police to bring criminal charges against one of the league's best players. West Coast player Andrew Gaff has been suspended for eight matches for punching 18-year-old Fremantle player Andrew Brayshaw behind play. Brayshaw has undergone surgery on a broken jaw and will require further treatment for three broken teeth. The teenager's first season in the game has come to an abrupt and violent end. The hit has prompted calls for all sorts of things; from a red card system in the AFL, to criminal charges and even jail time. On this episode of Just Cases we explore a similarly notorious incident in 1985. It led to the criminal prosecution of Leigh Matthews - a giant of Australian rules football held by many to be the greatest footballer to have ever played the game.