Archie Battersbee – best interests assessment in the High Court 

by Emma Nottingham | Jul 16, 2022 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch

The Archie Battersbee litigation has featured a series of different applications. The first, back in April 2022, resulted in a decision that it was lawful for clinicians to undertake brain stem testing, despite the parent’s objections. The brain stem testing could not...

News from the 8th open FJC meeting: getting the covert recording guidance done

by Alice T | Jul 12, 2022 | FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

I registered for the latest Family Justice Council open meeting to find out what was going on, and to ask about the long-promised guidance on covert recording. The covert recording guidance turned out to be on the agenda. But the meeting was generally...

Defamation and domestic abuse – an update

by Julie Doughty | Jul 6, 2022 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

The judgment in Lee v Brown [2022] 1699 EWHC (QB) has now been published on TNA.  We wrote about the case after I attended one day of a hearing on 20 June.  This update isn’t going to go into detail on defamation law but will, I hope, explain further why I...

Archie Battersbee Case – The hearing in the Court of Appeal

by Emma Nottingham | Jun 30, 2022 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

Background on the case so far The case concerns 12-year-old Archie, who is currently receiving mechanical ventilation in hospital following an accident in the home in April 2022, which led to brain damage. In May, the court granted permission for Archie to receive...

The National Archives and Family Court transparency – a temporary glitch?

by reporting watch team | Jun 29, 2022 | FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

The drive over the last decade toward greater Family Court transparency has been hugely dependent on the rapid and efficient publication of judgments by BAILII. So when, last year, it was announced that The National Archives would be taking over the primary function...

Remote observation of court hearings – new rules

by Lucy R | Jun 27, 2022 | FCReportingWatch, Transparency News

UPDATE 24 JULY: This post has been amended to further clarify the position in the Court of Protection. From today, Tuesday 28 June 2022, courts will have new powers to allow journalists and members of the public to observe hearings remotely. While many judges will now...