The Outback Court Reporter by Jamelle Wells

Title: The Outback Court Reporter

Author: Jamelle Wells

Genre: True Crime

Publisher: ABC/HarperCollins Publishers

Published: 14^th February 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 336

Price: $34.99

Synopsis: One of Australia’s most experienced court reporters goes on a judicial road trip.

Outback Court Reporter is a sometimes funny, sometimes tragic look at the comings and goings on inside the country courtrooms dotted across Australia.

From the case of the stolen cat flap, to missing lollipops and exploding chocolate milk in a country supermarket, to a custody dispute over a camel – Jamelle has seen the lighter and quirky side of outback courts but has also witnessed the harsh, dark, and petty side of outback life – including the high rates of Indigenous incarceration, alcohol-related and domestic violence.

After spending almost twenty years in city courtrooms reporting for the ABC on some of the country’s highest profile cases, in Outback Court Reporter, Jamelle Wells takes you into our country courtrooms, from the grand sandstone edifices of Cobar and Grafton to the repurposed community halls and police stations in outback Queensland the Northern Territory – introducing you to the court staff – the solicitors, prosecutors, magistrates, witnesses and the accused, in cases that shock, captivate and divide communities.

Outback Court Reporter is also a timely reminder of the need for reform as country magistrates struggle with massive caseloads and limited resources, the fall-out of failing regional health system and limited bail and sentencing options in a justice system that is under pressure and communities still disadvantaged by the vastness of our continent.

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Reporting on the goings on in courts around the country is something that we may not always see in the news every day. Or we may only see the big, high-profile cases reported on because these are often the ones that are ‘in the public interest’. That is, the public need to know about them because they can often involve tiplines or calls to the public for information. At times, these high-profile cases are in country towns, outback towns or rural and regional areas, where the court reporters, lawyers and magistrates can have connections to the community, and also act as advocates for those who they see in the court system.

In her latest book, ABC television and radio news reader Jamelle Wells, who is also the Senior Court Reporter for NSW has written about her experiences in outback, country, rural and regional courts. She discusses the cases she covered, some of which became very well-known, whilst others might not be as widely known. Nonetheless, they are still worthy of being reported on and having their stories told. Throughout the book, Jamelle reflects on her time in these outback courts and country towns, where magistrates often knew the people passing through their courts, and what it means for these communities when people like Jamelle are willing and trying to tell the court stories. She creates a narrative that discusses how she has to remain impartial, and present the facts without bias, so that even within the media, these people are not misrepresented. What stood out to me when she discussed this was that there were some outlets that would pressure court reporters into writing a certain way to meet what the publication expected, which could get them into trouble in some way.

Jamelle’s reflection on this, I felt, showed just how the demands of the 24-hour news cycle has changed reporting. It has meant that there is a sense that we may not always get the whole story, but the demand to know everything possible can affect this. That said, I think that Jamelle’s attempts to remain as responsible in her record taking and reporting as possible came through whilst I was reading. Another thing that stood out to me was that as a court reporter, she doesn’t just report on the criminal cases that we might hear about in the news. There’s much more to being a court reporter, and there can be all sorts of stories to report on. She also touches on how issues surrounding class, race, and poverty can have an impact on crime, and what it means for people who only have access to circuit courts or bush courts. To me, it felt like she was saying there is no easy or straightforward answer or solution, but also that things need to change. Much like they did when she and other regional and rural people contributed to a submission to the NSW government on rural and regional healthcare – a process of changes that is currently ongoing throughout NSW. It’s this kind of advocacy that is needed for the bush courts – but we also need to acknowledge that any decisions will always come down to people in power.

What this book does do is highlight the experience of court reporters and the issues associated with outback courts that are often not a point of discussion. Whether it’s the demographics going through court, the types of crimes seen on a daily basis, or the mental health of magistrates dealing with what it means to know the people they’re dealing with in court because they’re in the community, Jamelle has written a book that gives a deeper understanding into what reporting in outback courts is like. It touches on the things the public doesn’t see beyond the news reports and verdicts that are reported as well. I felt it was balanced and passionate, where personal experience, journalistic ethics, and the expectations of the media and the public collide to ensure a deeper understanding into the processes of court reporting is given. It’s much more than we think it is.