Prima Facie Suzie Miller Quotes

But I will tell you what I have lost; I have lost my dignity and my sense of self I have lost my career path, friends, peace of mind, my safety, the sense of joy in my sexuality. But most of all, I have lost my faith in this, the law, the system I believed would protect me.

All I know is that somewhere. Some time. Somehow. Something has to change.

He’s being nice to me now, and like every victim I have cross-examined before I fall for it. I ache for nice-ness.

And the system I’ve dedicated my life to is called upon, by me, to find the truth. To provide justice.

The law is an organic thing. Defined by us. Constructed by us, in light of our experiences. All of ours, and so, there are no excuses any more. It must change.

It’s not emotional for me. It’s the game. The game of law.

Yet significantly, research has shown that women giving evidence in sexual assault cases are just not believed! Even by other women.

Cross-Examination aka The Silencing

A good lawyer just tells the best version of their client’s story. Nothing more. Nothing else. Just the storyteller, the voice piece. Never judge, never ever judge. Never decide! The minute you do that, you’re fucked You have lost, you are lost.

It’s an interesting case though’, two defence lawyers fighting it out was an interesting concept for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Day one law school. Only trust your legal instincts.

Voir Dire

I am here in a unique position. Usually I stand at the bar, but now I am in this courtroom as a witness, a complainant, a victim.

The message is that if we do not deliver our evidence neatly in a clear linear story, with consistency in recall, then we are lying. Yet before this, I would point out inconsistencies as proof of doubt. Would tell the jury they couldn’t possibly be “sure”.

Cross-examination. It’s the best part. All instinct.

Society tells us that law school means you’re important.

There is no real truth, only legal truth.

Don’t trust your gut instincts only your legal instincts.

Prosecutors work with the police. Say they’re fighting for justice – but they’re fighting for jail time!

What if he did it ? I got him off. Shit. Can't think like that, the prosecutor should have done a better job! My job is just to point out holes in the prosecution's story. Find a reasonable doubt by cross-examining the alleged victim.

But there's always that fucking question, every dinner party; "How do you act for someone you KNOW did it!?" But, a lawyer's job is not that grand - uh uh - the job is not to KNOW. It's to NOT know. The only way the system works is because we all play our roles. My role is defence, the prosecutor, prosecutes; we each tell a story and the jury DECIDE which story is the one they believe. They take the responsibility. A good lawyer just tells the best version of their client's story. Nothing more. Nothing else. Just the storyteller, the voice piece. Never judge, never ever judge.

And then he says, "The Crown Prosecution Service will decide if the case is good enough to go to trial." I know this, of course I know it. But it's like a slap. I don't get to decide. My life is in the hands of the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the court system. I have no control.

Mum's face. I can't help thinking she knows what it is to be violated somehow. I'll never ask.