david's Reviews > Prima Facie

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Prima Facie (NHB Modern Plays)
by

Suzie Miller

david's review

Mar 06, 2023

really liked it

bookshelves: modern-plays-and-dramas

16 highlights

Me too.

This play centers around this recent movement, although I suspect similar behaviors have always been apparent.

The woman who wrote this play, an ex-barrister, worked herself up the legal ladder to become a defense attorney (in Australia?).

She often, while practicing, did not believe in the sincerity of her female clients claims of rape; that there must have been some culpability on the part of her clientage.

In this play, she reconsiders her role as an advocate for her constituency, when she herself is confronted and abused by a fellow male defense barrister.

“Reality is when it happens to you.”

A tough play to read.

A necessary one to know, especially for nonplussed men.

13 likes · Like ∙ flag

Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Prima Facie.

Quotes david Liked

“Yet significantly, research has shown that women giving evidence in sexual assault cases are just not believed! Even by other women.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

1 likes

“It’s not emotional for me.
It’s the game. The game of law.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

1 likes

“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.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

1 likes

“Cross-Examination
aka
The Silencing”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

1 likes

“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.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

3 likes

“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.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

5 likes

“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.”
― Suzie Miller, Prima Facie

1 likes