Why Can You Watch Trials in the U.S....But Not in Australia

In the United States, you can watch a trial unfold in real time—witnesses, evidence, and verdicts broadcast to millions through networks like my favourite, Court TV.But in Australia, courtrooms remain largely closed to cameras.So why the difference?In this episode of Exhuming the Truth, we break down the key distinctions between the U.S. and Australian criminal justice systems—from televised trials and jury dynamics to sentencing laws and the role of media in shaping public perception.We explore how high-profile cases, like the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, have blurred the line between justice and entertainment—and why that level of exposure is unlikely to happen in Australia.But beyond the surface, this episode asks a deeper question... Does justice work better when the public can see everything…or when the system protects the process, even if we can’t?This is a conversation about transparency, fairness, and the evolving relationship between media and the law.