Australian judge wants prejudicial Web sites shut down
Media organisations in Australia have branded as silly and unworkable a call by a Supreme Court judge to impose blackouts on any material likely to prejudice a trial.
Justice Virginia Bell, of the NSW Supreme Court, told a conference in Darwin of Supreme and Federal court judges from across the country, the ready availability of archived press reports on the internet could jeopardise the trial of an accused person, reports The Australian. The Internet industry said it would be impossible to police offshore sites. Justice Bell recommended that to prevent jurors from researching cases online, Crown prosecutors in any pending case should carry out searches on the Internet and, in the event that prejudicial material is identified request any Australian-based Web site to remove it until the trial is completed. Full report in The Australian