Gertie's Law: season two is here

In December 2020, the Court released a special episode, ‘Court in a Pandemic’, taking listeners inside the virtual courtrooms during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Season two is now complete and features, for the first time, interviews with the barristers and solicitors who occupy an unexplored area of the Court: the bar table.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Anne Ferguson, said there had been a great response to season one of Gertie’s Law, with more than 280,000 downloads across 142 countries. The Court in a Pandemic episode has been downloaded over 14,000 times.

“We started making Gertie’s Law to help people more easily understand the work of the Court, who we are, what we do, and why we do it,” the Chief Justice said.

“Season one introduced listeners to judicial officers, tipstaves, court staff, the journalists who cover court cases and many other people who regularly interact with the Court.

“In season two, the podcast team speak to some of the barristers and solicitors who play such an important role in our justice system. We want to give people a fuller picture of what happens in the courtroom. So lawyers will join judges and historians exploring complex issues including the difference between murder and manslaughter, terrorism cases and defamation law. 

“Season two also provides little-known insight into one the most well-known judges to sit on the Supreme Court, Redmond Barry, and explores the world of the hardworking court therapy dogs and the dedicated people who work with them.”

Gertie’s Law is available to stream now through the Supreme Court website or you can download and listen wherever you get your podcasts.  

Background

The title Gertie’s Law is a reference to the statue of Lady Justice above the Court’s William Street entrance in Melbourne, known colloquially as Gertie. The podcast was recognised in April last year at the New York Festival Radio Awards, winning the Education Podcast category from a shortlist of international entrants.