Everybody Out

Extract

The common law tradition strongly favours witnesses giving evidence in public. In the leading case of Scott v. Scott [1913] A.C. 417, the House of Lords ruled that at common law, even embarrassing evidence about sexual impotence in a nullity suit must be so given. Public justice is said to be essential to make sure that judges behave themselves and that witnesses tell the truth. For these two purely altruistic reasons, it is always staunchly defended by the media. In consequence, almost every statute passed to enable the judge to clear the court exempts the representatives of the press.