Posts
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup
Welcome to the Roundup, where we correct, clarify and comment on media reports of family court cases, explain and comment on published family court judgments and highlight other transparency news MEDIA COVERAGE OF FAMILY COURT MATTERS The Times - Published a series of...
When can you apply to discharge a Special Guardianship Order?
The recent case of M (Special Guardianship Order: Leave To Apply To Discharge) (Rev 1) [2021] EWCA Civ 442 considers the correct approach to applications for leave to apply to discharge a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). It might be helpful for parents who are...
We Still Don’t Know What Dignity Is and Maybe It Doesn’t Matter
This is a guest post from Katie Gollop QC. Katie is a barrister at Serjeants’ Inn Chambers specialising in healthcare related law. She’s also a Deputy High Court Judge allocated to the Family Division and Court of Protection. Katie first wrote about Pippa's case here....
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – what does it mean for transparency?
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill has prompted widespread concern. Coming so soon after a clash between the police and those who wished to hold a vigil in memory of Sarah Everard, news of whose disappearance and then death while walking home across London...
OUR TREATMENT OF THE VULNERABLE – CHALLENGES FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE SYSTEM
This is the text of a paper by Sir James Munby (lately President of the Family Division) delivered at the Royal Holloway University of London Symposium : ‘Inequality and Rights – Contemporary Challenges in the Child Protection and Family Justice Systems before and...
Should a journalist be able to see all the court papers behind a flawed decision that a child should be adopted? Marshalling the arguments
Last week the Court of Appeal heard journalist Melanie Newman’s appeal against an order against disclosure of the court papers behind a flawed decision that a young child should be adopted (subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeal with the child going home). I...
The end of an unhappy marriage – annulment and non-consummation
This is a guest post by Kathryn Cassells. Kathryn is an associate solicitor at Vaitilingam Kay. She tweets as @MasonCassells THIS POST WAS UPDATED ON 2 JUNE 2023 AS MARKED. An explanation of the updates is at the foot of the post. On 16 February 2021, the press...
Deaf parents in care proceedings: Good practice in and out of court
This is a post by regular contributor, Abigail Bond. Abigail is a barrister at St John’s Chambers, Bristol who specialises in Children Law (mainly care proceedings), and Court of Protection health and welfare matters. She tweets as @AbigailBond1. Re A &...
M (A Child): Live streaming from the Court of Appeal on Thursday 4th March – Should a journalist be able to see the court documents behind a flawed decision that a child needed adoption?
This is a short blog to introduce the people and issues, and explain the lead up, ahead of the live-streamed appeal in M (A Child) tomorrow. It aims to give non lawyers a bit of orientation and some links when tuning in to the court of appeal proceedings. The listing...
Transparency Review : Oral Evidence Sessions Underway
As reported last month, oral evidence sessions are now underway as part of the President of the Family Division's Transparency Review. See our earlier post here : http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/family-court-transparency-review-an-update/ Transparency Project...