Which Judges can relax reporting restrictions?

by Lucy R | Feb 13, 2022 | FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

It’s not that often that a journalist or legal blogger attends a family court hearing but, when they do, they will often ask for permission to report what has taken place, anonymously. Because lawyers and judges are often unfamiliar with dealing with this sort...

What is ‘gaslighting’ and what does it mean in family court cases?

by Julie Doughty | Feb 11, 2022 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Trends

We have noticed assumptions that family courts are familar with the terms ‘gaslighting’ and ‘being gaslit’, but is the meaning widely known and understood? A straw poll suggests not. This post will look at the origins of the concept, and its...

The Transparency Project’s response to the consultation on improving the judicial disciplinary system

by reporting watch team | Feb 8, 2022 | Consultations, FCReportingWatch

We’ve published our response to the consultation in the form of a post below: JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE: CONSULTATION ON PROPOSALS ABOUT THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM IN ENGLAND AND WALES – RESPONSE OF THE TRANSPARENCY PROJECT TO THE CONSULTATION THE...

Local authority support services in Wales and private law contact disputes: Re R-E

by Julie Doughty | Feb 5, 2022 | Cases, Comment, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

This judgment, Re R-E (Contact: Support from local authorities in Wales) [2021] EWFC B95 from Pontypridd Family Court, published on BAILII a few days ago, has a number of unusual features. One is the outcome, that direct contact was found not to be in the...

Behind Closed Doors. Why We Break Up Families and How to Mend Them by Polly Curtis: A BOOK REVIEW

by Alice T | Feb 2, 2022 | Comment, FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

This is a live book review. I’m writing it as I read it. The book itself is a beautiful object. I don’t read enough books to know if this is typical for a Virago hardback, the latest thing in hardbacks, or just this book.  This book feels pocket-sized. You’d...

Two new Griffiths judgments – what are they about?

by reporting watch team | Jan 23, 2022 | FCReportingWatch

Last week saw publication of two new judgments relating to the child of former MP, Andrew Griffiths, and current MP, Kate Griffiths. Here we summarise what those judgments are about and what they do (or don’t) tell us about matters of principle that might affect...