Posts
Gibbs (Rev 1: Mrs 0)
Gibbs v Gibbs (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 2134 is a rather extraordinary judgment. You’ll notice the names are incorporated in the description of the case - that is for two reasons. Firstly, the judgment relates to a committal hearing, which are always held in public with the...
Corona contact and children in care – Re D-S in the Court of Appeal
Three children had been living with their grandmother under interim care orders since September 2019, pending a fact-finding hearing listed for November 2020. The reason for the care orders was that one of the children had suffered a fracture, and their mother was one...
Another recusal refusal – but this time the Court of Appeal steps in
In the second such case in a month, a judge has refused to recuse herself at the request of a litigant, but on this occasion the Court of Appeal has reversed that decision and ordered that she step down from the case and let another judge take over. In the...
![Re T (A Child: Refusal of Adoption Order) [2020] (EWCA Civ 797)](https://transparencyproject.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1147438376.jpg)
Re T (A Child: Refusal of Adoption Order) [2020] (EWCA Civ 797)
This is a guest post by Jessica Smith. Jessica is a Trainee Solicitor due to qualify in September 2020 and is aspiring to be a Family Solicitor. She tweets as @JessicaLSmith__ In the recent case of Re T (A Child: Refusal of Adoption Order) [2020] (EWCA Civ 797), the...
Ditch the witch : But which witch law needs ditching?
Oh dear. Headline in last week's Independent : Fathers4Justice launches bizarre ‘Ditch The Witch’ campaign outside Johnny Depp court case The standfirst below said : Johnny Depp-Amber Heard story is ‘best advert for divorce in the world’, fathers’ rights group says....
Family court stat spike due to covid? Not remotely so.
This is a guest post by Jo Edwards, who tweets as @MissJoEdwards. Last Sunday morning started pleasantly enough. Sun peeking through the shutters after being a no-show the day before; a cup of tea in bed; a visit to the gym looming and the prospect of...
The Spotlight Review on domestic abuse – where does it fit in with other court reforms?
The work undertaken by the ‘spotlight panel’ appointed by the Ministry of Justice, reported in what is being referred to as the ‘harm report’, has already been commented on here and here. Its full title is ‘Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law...
Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup
Welcome to this month's 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 Express - IPSO...
Recusal refusal: judge declines to step down in response to litigant’s suspicions of apparent bias
In an earlier post we described how a judge refused to allow a McKenzie Friend to speak in court on behalf of a litigant in person. In a further judgment in the same case, Ameyaw v McGoldrick [2020] EWHC 1787 (QB), Mrs Justice Steyn refused the litigant’s application...
A remote private FDR in an ordinary case
This is a guest post from an anonymous contributor. Context A financial dispute resolution hearing (or “FDR”) is an essential appointment in a financial remedies application, when divorcing couples need to sort out their finances and property. A judge will hear brief...