Here’s a really uninspiring quote from the judge leading the inquiry into the phone hacking scandal:
He said it was critical that the inquiry concentrated on “the central and most important issue”, adding the “focus of the inquiry is the culture practices and ethics of the press in the context of the latter’s relationship with the public, the police and politicians.”
He said in September he would be holding in the first instance “a series of seminars on the ethics of journalism and the practices and pressures of investigative journalism”. He added: “At some stage there needs to be a discussion of what amounts to the public good, to what extent the public interest should be taken into account and by whom”.
He added he would later hold seminars on press relationships with the police, politicians and the political process.
I doubt whether Rupert Murdoch dribbled in his Depends after reading that press release. I hope Lord Justice Levenson is able to take a moment from his high-minded seminars and general concern with the public good to turn some disgruntled News Corps ex-employees into current informants. Or, perhaps the seminars are just a smokescreen, but Leveson’s announcement that he can’t complete the first part of the inquiry in the year allotted is also troubling.
beltane
This doesn’t even have the teeth of a sternly worded letter. Seminars? Why did no one think of making Al Qaida operatives attend seminars? It would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives and hundreds of billions of dollars.
cathyx
I don’t know what classes are taught in journalism school, but that’s where they should be taught and made mandatory. Even a requirement for journalists to attend every 5 years to keep up with the latest trends in what’s legal.
arguingwithsignposts
Lord Justice Iverson responds:
Citizen_X
Gosh, I hope Norwegian courts don’t make Breivik attend a bunch of seminars. That would be inhuman!
PS: that title is going to make Fuckhead show up here and talk about his prostrate exams again, and you do not want to hear that.
catpal
So it seems pretty obvious with that quote — that the Time for seminars are needed – instead of immediate Jail time – so that Lord Justice Leveson decides how much blackmail evidence Rupert Murdoch and his News Mafia – will inflict on the Lord Justice Leveson.
It seems pretty obvious that Murdoch OWNS most of the UK Judicial System too now.
burnspbesq
Lordy, the ignorance about how things work in the UK is thick here this morning.
There is this organization called the Crown Prosecutions Service that is charged with enforcing the criminal laws.
Is there anything in this guy’s remit that even suggests that his inquiry is intended to displace or shut down the work of the CPS?
bjacques
This is to be expected.
These inquiries always take a long time and are a great way to bury government mal- and misfeasance, such as that of the Blair government in the runup to the Iraq invasion. By the time the Hutton Inquiry reached its verdict, everyone knew Tony Blair was a lying weasel and Malcolm Tucker from “In The Loop” really was based on New Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell, and the laws they broke were the ones that govern humanity in general but don’t often land one in the dock.
The Levenson Inquiry is about Press and the government, and may lead to charges. But since crimes were admitted to and/or evidence found for them, if Brooks, Murdoch pere et fils and whoever else are to land in the dock, we won’t have to wait on the inquiry.
ETA: What burnspbesq said.
arguingwithsignposts
@burnspbesq:
Maybe “seminars” means something different in the UK than it does here in the U.S., but I don’t really think the idea of some Aspen Ideas Festival of wise heads stroking their chins about press ethics is something to be thankful for.
Dead Earnest
…except for the incontinence caused by his laughter.
Brandon
This is quite frankly perverse. IIRC, this judge has also attended social engagements hosted by Murdoch. It is telling that the guy who was to rule on the BSkyB had to be removed because he professed to be engaged in a “war” with him, but the judge who is supposed to investigate him can sip his champagne. Judging by how corrupted the two top officials of the Metropolitian Police were and including the fact that a previous attempt to prosecute was thwarted by another judge, I can only conclude that the system of law and order in Britain is irreparably broken. At this point, the plot for “The Shadow Line” seems increasingly plausible. I feel really sorry for Britain right now. They deserved better than a judicial cover-up to try an run out the clock on these crimes. David Cameron must be ecstatic, however since he appointed this clown, I am sure this outcome was his intent.
mistermix
@burnspbesq: Lordy, your ignorance of the remit of the Leveson inquiry is thick today:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leveson_Inquiry
Note that the first inquiry is specifically to look at the scandal, and the second to the general culture and ethics, yet Leveson is talking about seminars in September, while saying that the first inquiry may take more than a year.
Also, too: Did Michele Bachmann have time to attend your law school reunion this year? IIRC, you both graduated the same year.
Omnes Omnibus
@ mistermix: Is there any reason that the two areas of inquiry could not be pursued simultaneously? Why is it not possible that the culture and ethics bit could be completed quickly while the inquiry into specifics of the scandal might take longer? As burnspbesq noted the CPS should be pursuing criminal charges against those who have broken the law. This process could actually delay the Leveson Inquiry as those charged with crimes or potentially charged with crimes would avoid testifying to avoid self-incrimination. Do you really think that a year is too short a time do a full investigation?
someguy
FWIW, and for those not familiar with the U.K., “Lord Justice” is not actually counterpart of Judge Dredd, does not wear a suit with a cape and rubberized armor over his abs – in fact a typical Lord Justice probably has nothing anybody could recognize as abs – and furthermore has no authority to spontaneously blow Rupert Murdoch into tiny little shreds with a futuristic rocket/laser pistol.
Mary
@mistermix
That’s backwards, actually. From the Telegraph article cited in the wikipedia page:
“The inquiry should report on the regulation of the press within 12 months, but its investigations into allegations of wrongdoing in the press and police is expected to report later, once criminal proceedings have concluded.”
Omnes Omnibus
@ someguy:
Too bad, ‘cos that would be cool.
Dr. Squid
Oh goody. Another blogger ethics panel.
sukabi
so my question would be, ‘How many times did the good judge ‘enjoy the company of Murdoch and or Murdoch execs?’ because it doesn’t seem like he’s all that interested in an investigation into just how far this went…
burnspbesq
@mistermix:
Fuck off. I graduated from a real law school. You do not want to get into a pissing contest about academic credentials with me.
burnspbesq
@mistermix:
Also, thanks for making my point for me. There is nothing in the language you quoted that can reasonably be read as saying that the CPS is off the case.
Do the right thing.
Zak44
Just when you thought it couldn’t get scummier—
Back in 2000, Sarah Payne, an 8-year-old British girl was abducted and murdered. The News of the World took up the cause to pass a law similar to Megan’s Law here.
Sounds very noble, right?
Now it turns out that Sarah’s mother was given a mobile phone by none other than Rebekah Brooks, ostensibly to help her stay in touch with supporters.
This information only just came out, when authorities found personal details about Mrs. Payne in the notes of the investigator the paper hired to do their phone hacking.
It’ll be interesting to see where this leads. Right now, it’s pointing directly at Brooks, who has denied any personal knowledge of hacking.
The Guardian’s story is here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/28/phone-hacking-sarah-payne/print
John Puma
So Murderedoch owns the judicial system to.
Are we shocked, shocked yet?