Seminar: Accessing Court Papers / Social Media & the Courts

Seminar for those who cover the courts and those who commission them

Significant changes covering access to court documents are coming into force. This one-day seminar, arranged by NUJ Dublin P and PR branch, at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street, Dublin 7, on Saturday November 17, explains those changes and includes advice on what documents are available under this new regime, and how to access them. The significance of these changes is underlined by the attendance of Chief Justice Frank Clarke. The seminar is free but registration is necessary, email gerry.curran@courts.ie

Accessing Court Papers / Social Media & the Courts

Seminar

The Courts Service, and the NUJ

– Dublin P&PR Branch

Court Reporting ….. Accessing Court Documents…. Social Media and the Courts…. Issues in quality court reporting….. Contempt & Privilege changes

Criminal Courts of Justice

Parkgate Street, Dublin 7

Saturday November 17th 2018

Pre-registration required @: gerry.curran@courts.ie

Speakers and Times

9:30 a.m. Registration and Welcome

– Gerry Curran, Media Relations Advisor The Courts Service

– Introduction to issues Seamus Dooley Assistant General Secretary of the NUJ

10:00 a.m. Privilege and Court Reporting: Contempt: Social Media issues:

Consultation on Change

Speaker: Ray Byrne Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission

10:35 a.m. Discussion on paper

11:00 a.m. Social Media and the Courts – Need for Direction

The Chief Justice of Ireland, Mr Justice Frank Clarke

11:45 a.m. Social Media and Journalists – Keeping Safe & Sane – in court and out

Sian Jones, President of the National Union of Journalists

12:30 p.m. Discussion on same

Lunch Break – many local venues on corner – Nancy Hands are expecting a group

2:00 p.m. – Accessing Court Documents: Introduction by Gerry Curran, the Courts Service

– The Life of a High Court case – accessing what documents and when – Kevin O’Neil, Chief Registrar of the High Court Central Office

– Reporting local Courts in action – What can be accessed in Circuit and District Cases – and what cannot be – Peter Mullan Director of Circuit and District Operations of the Courts Service.

Discussion on same

3:00 p.m. The Practicalities of Court reporting: Orla O’Donnell RTE Legal Affairs Correspondent – “do’s and don’t’s / the highs and lows / the challenges of Court reporting”.

Also For Discussion – accessing national news for local reporters/ outlets/ titles / turning local stories into national reads

Non NUJ Journalists and student journalists are invited to attend this event – Officials will be on hand to take queries about issues all throughout the day. Register gerry.curran@courts.ie