SECRECY, LAW AND SOCIETY
A TWO-DAY WORKSHOP TO INVESTIGATE THE
LEGAL AND SOCIO-LEGAL DIMENSIONS OF
SECRECY
SYDNEY LAW
SCHOOL
THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2014
& FRIDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2014
Sydney Law School
New Law Building (F10)
University of Sydney
PRICE
Full fee: $75
Unwaged/Concessions: $30
WORKSHOP HOSTS
Sydney Institute of Criminology
Sydney Law School, University of Sydney
The Ross Parsons Centre of
Commercial, Corporate and Taxation
Law, Sydney Law School, University of
Sydney
Law & Society Research Network,
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
University of Sydney
REGISTRATION
Opening at the end of 2013
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Scholars and critics have shown how a ‘culture of security’ ushered in
after 11 September 2001 has involved exceptional legal measures and
increased recourse to secrecy on the basis of protecting public safety and
national security. However, secrecy is not confined to this development,
and includes legacies of secrecy across a range of institutional and
cultural settings. With this in mind, this two day workshop will interrogate
the legal as well as socio-legal dimensions of secrecy.
In law, secrecy impacts upon the separation of powers, due process
and the rule of law, raising fundamental concerns about open justice,
procedural fairness and human rights. More broadly, questions concerning
secrecy involve the credibility of public and private institutions.
Workshop questions may include:
ç Where is secrecy in the law and what justifies it? And how does the
State keep its secrets in litigation?
ç What are the challenges posed to legal and constitutional principles,
the rules of evidence, and ‘traditional’ mechanisms for dealing
with sensitive information, such as public interest immunity? Might
secrecy be remedied by human rights statutes and safeguards such
as the use of special advocates?
ç What bearing does secrecy have on the media, press freedom and
free speech?
ç What, if any, relationship exists between secrecy, a right to privacy
and breach of confidence?
ç What might be some of the institutional effects of secrecy
developments upon security and law enforcement agencies?
ç How might legal and socio-legal perspectives help make sense of
cultural, historic and institutionalised forms of secrecy?
The Workshop will feature key academics and
practitioners, including:
ç
ç
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Dr Gabrielle Appleby (Senior Lecturer, Law School,
University of Adelaide)
Dr Steven Churches (Barrister and Senior Lecturer,
School of Law, University of South Australia)
Dr Lawrence McNamara (Senior Research Fellow
& Deputy Director, Bingham Centre for the Rule of
Law, London, UK)
Law & Society Research Network
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University of Sydney
The Law & Society Research Network is located in
the Department of Sociology & Social Policy at the
University of Sydney. It links researchers pursuing
theoretical and empirical work in fields traversing
law, social science and the humanities. It organises
a range of workshops and seminars covering the
current projects of University of Sydney socio-legal
researchers as well as visiting international scholars.
Other speakers are to be confirmed.
CONTACT
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS/PAPERS
All enquiries and further information about the
Workshop can be directed by email to any of the
organisers:
Please email abstracts of 200 words (plus biographical
information) to Dr Greg Martin greg.martin@sydney.
edu.au by 31 August 2013. A decision about papers will
be communicated to applicants by mid-September 2013.
Speakers whose abstracts are accepted for the
Workshop will be required to submit draft papers for
circulation in mid-January 2014.
It is anticipated that a selection of Workshop papers will
be published in an edited collection or special issue of
a peer-reviewed journal. Final papers for publication will
need to be submitted by 30 April 2014.
Miiko Kumar:
[email protected]
Dr Greg Martin:
[email protected]
Dr Rebecca Scott Bray:
[email protected]
WORKSHOP HOSTS
Sydney Institute of Criminology
Sydney Law School
University of Sydney
The Institute of Criminology is a research centre based
in the Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney,
specialising in criminology, criminal justice and criminal
law. It produces the international research journal
Current Issues in Criminal Justice and the Institute of
Criminology book series. The Institute is committed
to public and professional education, and advises
government and private organisations on matters of
crime, law and policy.
The Ross Parsons Centre of Commercial, Corporate
and Taxation Law
Sydney Law School
University of Sydney
The Ross Parsons Centre of Commercial, Corporate and
Taxation Law was launched in 2004 to build upon Sydney
Law School’s excellence in commercial, corporate and
taxation law. The Centre is active in undergraduate
and postgraduate courses, conferences and seminars,
sponsoring visits from international and Australian
academics, encouraging research and building links with
other institutions with similar goals.
Sydney Law School is one of Australia’s leading
law schools, preparing graduates for national,
transnational and international legal career.
For further information about upcoming
conferences, events or tertiary programs, visit
http://sydney.edu.au/law/
ABN 15 211 513 464 CRICOS 00026A