Posts
‘Family judge keeps press in the dark about “indefensible” case’
This summer, two judgments were published from Newport Family Court that related to an application by a local authority (un-named) to withdraw care proceedings it had issued back in April 2023. The child subject to the application had been removed from his...
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup
Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news. MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY LAW, TRANSPARENCY etc The Guardian had an...
ASSISTED DYING : WHAT ROLE FOR THE JUDGE?
This is a guest post by Sir James Munby, former President of the Family Division. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill had its first, purely formal, reading in the House of Commons on 16 October 2024, when it was presented by Kim Leadbeater MP. The important...
‘Why would you give me the power to make decisions about your children?’
This question was asked by HHJ Scannell at a private law hearing in Cardiff Family Court I attended last week. The judge explained to the two parents in dispute that she hoped they would take a problem-solving approach, in accordance with the Pathfinder principles....
Contempt of court by publication of information relating to family (children) proceedings – a simple question without a simple answer
We were asked a ‘simple’ question a while back about the law that protects the privacy around court cases about children. How long does the law preventing people talking about those cases carry on for? Can you say what you like as soon as the case is over? Or does...
THE PRESSING NEED FOR REFORM OF SECTION 12
This is a guest post by Sir James Munby, former President of the Family Division. For a summary of the issues raised in this piece please read this post: Contempt of Court by Publication of Information Relating to Family (Children) Proceedings - A Simple Question...
Cafcass new domestic abuse policy – an explainer
Last week, Cafcass in England announced and published a new policy about how they will make recommendations to court where domestic abuse is an issue. This is a brief rundown of what we think it will mean for parents and children facing family court proceedings. The...
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup
Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family law, explain and comment on published family court judgments, and highlight other transparency news. MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY LAW, TRANSPARENCY etc The BBC reported that...
International contact after a defended abduction
This is the first full final hearing in a High Court case that we have attended and reported on as legal bloggers. It raises interesting issues about international abduction; the aftermath regarding international contact; and the differing perceptions of two...
The presumption and ‘contact culture’
A legal presumption was introduced into the Children Act 1989 in 2014 that, in a contact dispute between separated parents, the continued involvement of both parents in their child's life is in the child's best interests. This has become increasingly controversial and...