ABC Upfronts 2026 | Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia – The ABC is proud to announce a bold four-part documentary series Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia that reveals how the High Court has shaped our nation.
The High Court is the grand stage for the third acts of some of our most compelling national dramas. Many of the toughest, highest stakes questions asked about Australia are answered by its Justices. Judgment charts stories of extraordinary ordinary people seeking justice, big legal brains, their often-brilliant arguments and judgments.
With unrivaled access, revealing interviews, rich archive material and evocative drama, Judgment will take viewers inside a vital, at times mysterious, Australian institution as it weighs up the nation on the crucial High Court cases that were a turning point for the country: Mabo, Marriage Equality, Immigration and the right to Vote.
Judgment deals with events and issues that remain important to how Australians live now by revealing the workings of a vital institution and the thinking of powerful judges, inviting viewers to consider the strengths and limitations of Australia’s courts in driving change.
ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist, Susie Jones said:
“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 said:
“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”.
Screen Australia Head of Documentary Richard Huddleston said:
“Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia is a portal into the rarely accessed High Court of Australia. Led by Larissa Behrendt drawing on her combined expertise as lawyer and filmmaker, Judgment offers audiences the unique opportunity to go beyond and understand this important institution, the people within and the landmark cases whose decisions have helped shape our democracy, and ultimately, our everyday lives”.
Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said,
“Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia is an ambitious factual series, spotlighting landmark cases which have shaped Australia, and promises to be essential viewing. The series is brought to life by an outstanding creative team, including series director Larissa Behrendt who brings her unique combination of legal expertise and storytelling experience to the project. Screen NSW is thrilled to support Wildbear Entertainment to bring this important series to the ABC.”
Screen Canberra CEO Holly Trueman said:
“Screen Canberra is incredibly proud to support WildBear Entertainment in bringing this landmark series to life. The High Court is not just a Canberra icon; it’s the very place where the story of modern Australia has been written”.
Judgment will air on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2026.
Always free, always entertaining, discover more enlightening and inspiring documentaries on ABC iview now.
Production Credits: Judgment is a WildBear Entertainment production for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Major production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW, and with investment from the ACT Government and Screen Canberra. Developed with assistance of the ABC and Screen NSW. Producer: Alan Erson. Executive Producer: Michael Tear. Co-Producer: Caroline Douglas. Series Director: Larissa Behrendt. Director: Victoria Midwinter Pitt. ABC Commissioning Editor: Stephen Oliver. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist: Susie Jones. Worldwide distribution by ABC Commercial.
Media Release – ABC
Link to ABC iview HERE
TV Central ABC content HERE
ABC Upfronts 2026 | Judgment: Cases That Changed Australia
