Humanities

Year 11 Legal Studies Excursion – County Court

On 24 June Year 11 Legal Studies students visited the County Court of Victoria. In unit 1 we studied both criminal offences (homicide, arson) and civil actions (negligence, defamation) and we were keen to see our court system in action.

After a small delay passing through security we were escorted into an empty courtroom and introduced to Her Honour, Judge Frances Hogan, who shared with us the details of some of the grizzly cases she has presided over. Students then asked the Judge questions they had prepared, and Her Honour was both honest and open about her life as a Judge.

Judge Hogan was particularly impressed when students presented her with a South Oakleigh College ‘showbag’ complete with stress ball (for her stressful job) and pen (for all her paperwork).

The Tipstaff then accompanied us to other courtrooms to see closing arguments in the Armaguard heist case, then submissions in a civil case brought by a client against their own solicitor.

We also witnessed a media mobbing of Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson as he exited the Magistrates Court after an adjournment of his case.

The day provided us with not only an insight into how reality differs from the way legal cases are reported in the media, but it was a tantalising trailer for our study of Thompson’s case as we look at sanctions and sentencing in Unit 2.

Ms Jacinta Marlborough

Legal Studies Teacher