The common law offence "contempt of court" is the legal mechanism dating back to the early 1100 s by which the judiciary ensures its independence, effectiveness and dignity. It is the means by which the court avoids interference with the administration of justice thereby ensuring that the accused has a fair trial. It is the means by which the court punishes scandalous acts . With the rising of the new constitutional era by which all laws, be they common or statutory, are to conform to the deemed contemporary values of a new democratic society, the offence of contempt has to be in conformity with the values of the Namibian Constitution. One of these values is the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression bestowed upon the media. The media includes the press, radio, the Internet, and the television. The essence of this book is thus to examine to what extent the common law crime of contempt is in conformity with these constitutional values. In other words, does this offence reasonably restrict the free legal speech of the media as required by a democratic society such as ours? Or is the restriction unwarranted?

The essays discuss the restrictions imposed by contempt of court and other laws on media freedom to attend and report legal proceedings. Part I contains leading articles on the open justice principle. They examine the extent to which departures from that principle should be allowed to protect the rights of parties, in particular the accused in criminal proceedings, to a fair trial, and their interest in being rehabilitated in society after proceedings have been concluded. The essays in Part II examine the topical issue of whether open justice entails a right to film and broadcast legal proceedings. The articles in Part III are concerned with the application of contempt of court to prejudicial media publicity; they discuss whether it is possible to prevent prejudice without sacrificing media freedom. Another aspect of media freedom and contempt of court is canvassed in Part IV: whether journalists should enjoy a privilege not to reveal their sources of information.

Freedom of speech and a free and fair justice delivery system are two most important components of democracy, and striking a balance between them is a must for its smooth running. The law of contempt of court in India has assumed immense social and political significance due to growing judicial tendency to gag and often to subjugate the democratic aspirations and dissent. This book presents a critical assessment of the freedom of speech as enshrined in the Indian Constitution and encroachment on it by the proactive approach of judiciary through the instrument of the law of contempt of the court. Tracing the history of the contempt of court, it discusses at length the various aspects of democracy and freedom of speech, the status of contempt of court in various countries, the law of contempt and constitutional guarantees, and judicial accountability. It also tries to explore gender biases in the delivery of justice in the cases related to the contempt of court.

In Freedom of Expression in the Supreme Court, Terry Eastland brings together the Court's leading First Amendment cases, some 60 in all, starting with Schenck v. United States (1919) and ending with Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1998). Complete with a comprehensive introduction, pertinent indices and a useful bibliography, Freedom of Expression in the Supreme Court offers the general and specialized reader alike a thorough treatment of the Court's understanding on the First Amendment's speech, press, assembly, and petition clauses.

""Freedom of Speech and Press in America"" by Edward Gerard Hudon is a comprehensive examination of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech and press in America. The book explores the historical context of the amendment, including the political and social factors that led to its adoption. It also examines the various legal interpretations of the amendment, including landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the interpretation of free speech and press in America. The book covers a wide range of topics related to the First Amendment, including the limits of free speech, the protection of unpopular speech, the role of the press in a democratic society, and the relationship between free speech and national security. Overall, ""Freedom of Speech and Press in America"" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complex and evolving nature of free speech and press in America.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.