The death of the court reporter

With local press funding disappearing at a rate of knots someone is fast disappearing alongside, the court reporter.

British courts are very different to American ones on one important point.

No recording devices are allowed inside.

Public justice

The OJ Simpson trial...

Couldn't have happened here in the same way.

This means the only way to find out quickly what has been going on in the courts is to actually read court reports.

Valuable work

There was a time when a court reporter was a major feature of most local papers.

Ensuring justice was seen to be done, one of the principles on which our system hangs.

Court reporters still exist, but are dwindling in number.

They do one of the journalistic jobs I most admire.

While on the box

As they are cut to beyond the bone I find myself looking at the Judge Rinder show in a different light.

Sure, the show is entertainment, it is not the justice system as such.

However, increasingly it is offering an open forum to prompt reflection of fairness and justice where we hear less and less of the story unfolding behind the court room doors.

It is not a substitute, but if this is the way we are headed, perhaps it's needed.

Own goal

After trying to pull down an unwelcome statue in response to equally unwelcome real world events in Charlottesville now someone has been arrested for trying to blow it up.

Please remind me what it was the Taliban tried to blow up...

Meanwhile Trump has decided to about turn and send troops into Afghanistan.

Talk about offering an own goal America...

Freedom as farce

It was with true sadness I heard of the incidents surrounding far right groups in the United States.

It is even more painful to see someone come out and try and defend the violence.

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I can understand the anger causing a mob to descend on this man, but it puts any sense of political debate and progress into the most painful farce.

America, the land to present us figures like Martin Luther King, Aretha Franklin, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott and countless others seems to be descending into a kind of tragic fight where all lose.

I would urge you to look on the BBC website for a full report on these incidents.

Inspiration from athletes

The olympics proved to be a stunning affair of personal achievement and peaceful competition.

Though from here watching it I found myself really conflicted.

I was lucky enough to see Brazil on the ground and indeed it is an awe inspiring country if only in size alone.

It struck me when the athletes left for glory that they were performing in front of some that couldn't even afford the air fair, which I suppose is similar to me at the moment.

However, the inequity in Brazil, though improving, still remains great despite monumental effort.

Unlike during the World Cup little has been said on this point, possibly because the BBC is no longer as well resourced as it once was or maybe they don't think it's important.

Yet hearing that some of the US team had made seemingly false accusations there shamed my heart despite not being an American myself.

As yet I have not heard a public apology, which in this case might be warranted unless this story has been overblown.

They represent America at times like this and in such a moment should show the best of their country and not the worst, especially as the Brazilians are collectively hosting them despite whatever difficulties they may be facing.

They are not flown there to conquor but to inspire.

If they're motives are different then perhaps they should have stayed home.