Some of Australia’s biggest national turning points did not happen in parliament or on the streets, but inside the High Court — now the ABC is bringing those moments to the screen.
The broadcaster has revealed premiere details for the four part documentary series Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia, which takes viewers behind the legal battles that helped reshape the nation’s laws and identity.
Produced by WildBear Entertainment, the series steps inside the High Court of Australia to examine landmark cases including gay rights and marriage equality, the Mabo decision, immigration detention and the right to vote.
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The rulings examined in the series reveal how legal arguments and personal struggles, often played out inside the High Court in Canberra, have influenced the direction of the nation’s democracy.
Using archive material, interviews and drama documentary storytelling, the series aims to unpack the legal reasoning behind the decisions while highlighting the people who challenged the laws of the day.
The cases featured include the landmark Mabo ruling, which recognised native title in Australia and overturned the long standing doctrine of terra nullius.
At the time of the series being announced, ABC’s Head of Documentary and Specialist Susie Jones said the project explores the powerful legal decisions that continue to shape everyday life in Australia.
“At a time when institutions around the world are under increasing scrutiny, Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia is a landmark documentary series that explores some of the most dramatic High Court decisions, and the extraordinary but little known stories behind them – judgments which continue to impact Australians everywhere”.
WildBear Executive Producer Alan Erson further said the series offers rare access to a part of the justice system many Australians rarely see.
“Vital as it is, the High Court remains mysterious to many of us. The series delivers remarkable access to judges, lawyers and Australians seeking justice, trying to change their own lives and the course of history”.
The series is produced by Alan Erson, with Michael Tear as Executive Producer and Caroline Douglas as Co Producer, while Larissa Behrendt serves as Series Director alongside director Victoria Midwinter Pitt, with Stephen Oliver as ABC Commissioning Editor.
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Produced by WildBear Entertainment for the ABC, the project was developed with support from Screen NSW and backed by Screen Australia, the ACT Government and Screen Canberra.
Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia premieres Tuesday 14 April at 8.40pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
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