Corona contact and children in care – Re D-S in the Court of Appeal

by Julie Doughty | Aug 9, 2020 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

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

by Paul M | Aug 3, 2020 | Analysis, Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

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)

by Guest Post | Jul 31, 2020 | Analysis, Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

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...

Family Court Reporting Watch Roundup

by Alice T | Jul 18, 2020 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

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...

Recusal refusal: judge declines to step down in response to litigant’s suspicions of apparent bias

by Paul M | Jul 17, 2020 | Cases, Comment, Explanation

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...

WHO DECIDES WHO DECIDES? WITHDRAWAL OF CARE PROCEEDINGS

by Guest Post | Jul 14, 2020 | Analysis, Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

This is a guest post by Laura Vickers. Laura is a specialist children law barrister and mediator practising at No5 Barristers’ Chambers. She tweets as @LauraVickersNo5 Where a local authority determines that the medical evidence falls short of proving that...