Making final orders at an Issues Resolution Hearing

by Julie Doughty | May 13, 2026 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

This is my first case of legal blogging where I’ve heard anything about the child’s views being sought on my attendance and reporting of the proceedings. Last month, I went to a hearing in care proceedings at Gloucester Family Court (which takes the prize for having...

‘Much loved’ two-year-old to be adopted following contested court proceedings

by Julie Doughty | Jan 26, 2026 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

‘Tomas’ is a two year old boy who was removed from his parents to live in foster care under an interim care order in January 2025. (None of the parties’ real names are used in this post.) In a three-day final hearing in November, care and placement for adoption orders...

A child’s voice in care proceedings

by Julie Doughty | Nov 28, 2025 | Cases, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

A recent care case heard in Cardiff Family Court highlighted the experiences of children living in fear of their parents’ unpredictable and violent behaviour. The judge said that despite her having 30 years experience in care work, the children’s descriptions (in...

Care proceedings and chronic neglect

by Julie Doughty | Oct 24, 2025 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

Six children, aged between two and twelve, were removed from their parents’ care because they had suffered chronic neglect and emotional harm, after court proceedings that had lasted 28 weeks and local authority involvement for 12 years. I’ve written about two...

An order for ‘no contact’ at West London Family Court

by Julie Doughty | Oct 10, 2025 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

Earlier this month, I attended a private law hearing held at West London Family Court before His Honour Judge O’Donovan. The judge made a transparency order at the beginning of the hearing. There are some unusual aspects to this case, including a section 91(14) order...

Updated Guidance: What to do when a reporter attends your hearing

by reporting watch team | Sep 29, 2025 | Legal blogging, Open Reporting, Resources, Transparency News

We first published our Guidance Note ‘What to do when a reporter attends (or wants to attend) your hearing’ in 2023. Later, we updated it to account for the expansion of the Reporting Pilot and introduction of the Financial Remedies Pilot, developing two...