‘Family lawyers will be expected to come to court with their laptops and draft orders on the day as part of a policy drafted to reduce delays caused by growing workloads and dwindling staff resources. The court orders policy came into force at London’s Central Family Court last week.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th November 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘As a family judge, and now the judge responsible for the family justice system throughout England and Wales, I am very pleased to be able to address this conference and to take the opportunity to say something about the role of experts in family proceedings, the role of experts more generally before concluding, on a topic which may be of general interest to each of you, by saying something about the radical changes which are currently being developed and implemented in every court and tribunal and in every area of jurisdiction, be it criminal, civil or family law.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 9th November 2018
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
‘A family court judge has criticised a council’s social services department after it emerged that a little boy was placed with foster carers when grandparents who might have offered a home were unaware of his existence.’
The Indepdendent, 7th November 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The following is an extract from a talk delivered by the immediate past President of the Family Division to the Cheshire and North Wales Resolution Family Law Conference at Chester on 25 September 2018. The full version will appear in the November issue of Family Law.’
Family Law, 18th October 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Desperate parents are persuading less senior judges to transfer Court of Protection cases higher to force public authorities to act – a practice that the former president of the family division finds ‘deeply troubling’.’
Law Society's Gazette, 16th October 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Family procedural law is not as clear as it might be over when “a person who is not a party to the proceedings” (a non-party) can be compelled to produce documents and other information into family proceedings (eg the police, tax authorities, a doctor or accountant etc).’
Family Law, 9th October 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘This year has seen momentum grow towards family law reform following a series of landmark Supreme Court decisions. Until now, this has not prompted the government to change the law, with ministers instead opting to take soundings.’
Family Law, 5th October 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘An effort to encourage lawyers to report on everyday proceedings in the family courts to compensate for lack of press interest is being piloted over the next nine months, it has emerged.’
Legal Futures, 3rd October 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Yesterday [13 September] the Government published the first of its guidance dealing with justice matters in the event of the UK leaving the EU with “no deal” on 29 March 2019. The Ministry of Justice published a technical notice on handling civil legal cases, which includes consideration of co-operation between the UK and the EU in family matters following Brexit.’
Family Law, 14th September 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘A pilot Practice Direction 36J comes into force on 1 October 2018 to allow certain lawyers to attend family proceedings in the Family Court and Family Division of the High Court with a view to reporting on proceedings. These persons are colloquially described as ‘legal bloggers’. The pilot will run for nine months and concludes on 30 June 2019.’
Family Law, 27th August 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘After months of liaison with the Family Procedure Rules Committee our proposal to permit legal bloggers into family court hearings is going to be piloted. The pilot will launch on 1 October and run for 9 months until 30 June 2018, so it’s no change until then. The pilot will allow practising lawyers, academic lawyers and those under the umbrella of an an educational charity (like us). We’re keeners, so we’ve already submitted our details to the President of the Family Division so that we are on the ‘approved list’ of educational charities who can send lawyers to court (four weeks notice is required but this only needs to be done once).’
Transparency Project, 22nd August 2018
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
‘Produced by the Family Justice Council and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, this guide directs the reader to discipline-specific information with regards to paediatricians as expert witnesses. It is intended to be used by all stakeholders as a companion document to the generic expert witness standards set out in Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th August 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
‘Naomi Shelton, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP considers the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during July 2018.’
Family Law Week, 8th August 2018
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘Sir James Munby, who retired as President of the Family Division at the end of July, has attracted a good deal of media attention over the years and has been innovative and enthusiastic about constructively engaging with the media. He was vocal as early as 2013 (in a speech to the Society of Editors) about his wish for the family courts and the Court of Protection to become more open and the important role of the media (the press in particular) to make the workings of the family justice system accessible to the public. Although the government had seemingly thrown in the transparency towel after the failed legislation of 2010, he was determined to address the perceived problem of lack of confidence in “secret” family courts.’
Transparency Project, 6th August 2018
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
‘Sir James Munby retires as President of the Family Division having had an undeniable impact on family justice reform. Stepping into the role at a time of unprecedented change, Sir James has not shied away from the difficulties of the role, often under the harsh spotlight of media attention.’
Family Law, 27th July 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘The outgoing head of the family courts in England and Wales has raised concerns about access to family courts and said help for litigants who had to represent themselves due to cuts to legal aid was “woefully inadequate”.’
The Guardian, 27th July 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Speech by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division: Because it is the right thing to do.’
Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 24th July 2018
Source: www.judiciary.uk
‘Family analysis: Sarah Keily, partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore in Tunbridge Wells, discusses the decision in CH v CT [2018] EWHC 1310 (Fam), [2018] All ER (D) 03 (Jul), which illustrates the need to strictly comply with the relevant procedural requirements when seeking a committal order following a breach of a child arrangements order.’
Family Law, 19th July 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
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