[LINK] ethics above the law?

[Richard Chirgwin]

Brendan Scott wrote:
> Kim Holburn wrote:
>   
>> http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1846038.htm
>>     
>  
> []
>
>   
>>> But Judge Rozenes accused the journalists of putting their ethics
>>> above the law, and asked how any court is expected to tolerate that.
>>>       
>> He admitted the journalists acted ethically?
>>     
>
> The reference is to "their" ethics - which is not necessarily the same as what the rest of the world considers ethical. 
>
> Eg: if a group decides it's unethical to pay taxes should the court simply respect "their" ethics?
>   
No; but if a court agrees to hear the "no tax" case, that group has the 
right to argue its case in front of the court, and has the same right to 
lose its case as the journalists (or, if it discovers a necessary point 
of law, I suppose it also has the right to win the case!).

The court didn't "simply respect their ethics". It found them guilty and 
they are now awaiting sentencing hearings. So the journalists have taken 
a particular course of action, in full knowledge of the possible 
consequences (and, given the history of such hearing, knowing within a 
couple of points of certainty that they would lose the case).

RC
>
> Brendan 
>
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