Holding a fact finding hearing in the absence of the perpetrator

by Julie Doughty | Aug 6, 2023 | Cases, Comment, Explanation, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging, Reporting Pilot

I recently attended a hearing at Cardiff Family Court as a legal blogger under the Reporting Pilot, in the hope of finding out more about QLRs (under the ‘qualified legal representative’ scheme), as we discussed in this post: What’s a QLR and what’s all the fuss...

Talking in code

by reporting watch team | Jul 19, 2023 | FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging, Reporting Pilot, Transparency News

Some good news. Two bits actually. Firstly, the President has recently announced that the Reporting Pilot will be extended to cover Magistrates from October. Better late than never – the pilot will be ten months into its year long run by that time, so unless the...

What’s a QLR and what’s all the fuss about?

by Lucy R | Jul 18, 2023 | FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging, Reporting Pilot

QLR stands for ‘Qualified Legal Representative’, which sounds quite simple. However, in light of a recent article about the topic of QLRs, we thought it would be helpful to give some basic explanations of some of the terminology and the scheme. The article...

Media & bloggers observing hearings

by Julie Doughty | Jun 4, 2023 | Comment, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging

It is now 14 years since the Family Procedure Rules were amended to allow ‘accredited media representatives’ i.e. journalists to attend most types of family court hearings, and more than four years since ‘duly authorised lawyers’ i.e. legal...

Reporting Pilot update and some tips for reporters

by reporting watch team | May 26, 2023 | FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging, Reporting Pilot, Transparency News

On 28 April we reported that the Reporting Pilot was being extended to cover private law cases. That new regime came into play on 15 May. Reporting Pilot extended to private law hearings (and other TIG news) Although the bulletin which announced the extension also set...

Believe a child or the adults? A question for Cardiff Family Court

by Julie Doughty | May 12, 2023 | Cases, FCReportingWatch, Legal blogging, Reporting Pilot

This is a troubling story about three children subject to care applications by the Vale of Glamorgan Council; the final hearing took place last month and I attended Cardiff Family Court under the Reporting Pilot as a legal blogger.  There are far too many (more than...