Posts
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...
Proposal to the Law Commission for Transparency Reform
This is the text of a proposal submitted to the Law Commission in February 2021, by The Right Honourable Sir James Munby (President of the Family Division of the High Court from 2013-2018), His Honour Clifford Bellamy (Retired Family Circuit Judge, Patron of The...