From “Shaken Baby Syndrome” to “Non-Accidental Head Injury” – The Continuing Research and the Law – Family Law Week

‘David Bedingfield of 4 Paper Buildings charts the recent history of scientific research into serious non-accidental head injuries suffered by babies and the response of the family and criminal courts in England and Wales.’

Full story

Family Law week, 11th March 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Annual Dinner of the Family Law Bar Association – Speech by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division

Posted March 6th, 2014 in family courts, judges, legal history, speeches by tracey

‘Since I stood here last year much has happened. I look back on a year when, between us, we have managed to achieve more than most of us had dared to hope. I look forward to a year of what I am sure will be continuing challenges.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England & Wales, 5th March 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

The Termination of Parental Responsibility: Awaiting the Court of Appeal’s Judgment in the Appeal of CW v SG [2013] EWHC 854 (Fam) – Family Law Week

Posted March 5th, 2014 in appeals, children, family courts, news, parental responsibility by sally

‘Esther Lieu, barrister of Queen Square Chambers in Bristol, explores the circumstances in which parental responsibility may be terminated and considers the effect of s.4(2A) in anticipation of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the appeal from CW v SG.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 4th March 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Reporting Restrictions and the New Transparency – Part 2 – Family Law Week

‘In the second part of her article reviewing reporting restriction orders and the new transparency Mary Lazarus, barrister of 42 Bedford Row, considers those cases involving aggrieved parties and cases with international implications.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 4th March 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Court fee plans herald justice for those who can pay – senior judges – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 5th, 2014 in civil justice, costs, family courts, fees, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

‘Senior judges have savaged government proposals for reforming court fees, warning that they are based on ‘inadequate’ and compromised research, and basic misconceptions about the way the courts operate.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Inquisitorial system may be better for family and civil cases, says top judge – The Guardian

Posted March 4th, 2014 in civil justice, family courts, judges, legal aid, litigants in person, news by sally

‘A judge-led, inquisitorial system of justice may be a better way of conducting family and civil cases where litigants are unrepresented, the lord chief justice has suggested.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th March 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Baby to undergo blood transfusions despite objection of Jehovah’s Witnesses parents – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 4th, 2014 in children, family courts, medical treatment, news, parental rights by sally

‘High Court judge agrees to proceedure despite his parents’ objections on religious grounds.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Reporting Restrictions and the New Transparency – Part 1 – Family Law Week

‘This is the first part of a three-part article by Mary Lazarus, barrister of 42 Bedford Row, reviewing recent developments concerning reporting restriction orders and transparency in the family courts. In this first part Mary considers some procedural issues before concentrating on those cases involving clashes between the need for privacy and the desire to report issues of genuine public interest.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 27th February 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Split Hearings in Care Proceedings: a Thing of the Past? – Family Law Week

Posted February 18th, 2014 in appeals, care orders, family courts, news, split hearings by sally

‘Michael Jones, barrister of 15 Winckley Square Chambers, reviews the recent Court of Appeal judgment in S (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 25 and considers its likely consequences.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 18th February 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

In re NL (A Child) (Appeal: Interim Care Order: Facts and Reasons) – WLR Daily

Posted February 17th, 2014 in care orders, delay, family courts, law reports, lists by sally

In re NL (A Child) (Appeal: Interim Care Order: Facts and Reasons) [2014] EWHC 270 (Fam); [2014] WLR (D) 70

‘The case raised issues of practice and procedure arising in the early stages of care proceedings including: (i) the importance of the need to ensure a just and fair assessment process despite the impetus to complete public law cases within 26 weeks, (ii) the alarming and patently wrong practice of justices sitting in the family proceedings court adopting the local authority’s analysis of what their findings and reasons might comprise, and (iii) the importance of listing appeals from interim care orders, where separation had been sanctioned, as a matter of urgency.’

WLR Daily, 13th February 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Family law in crisis – New Law Journal

‘Cuts to legal aid have thrown family proceedings into chaos, say Kim Beatson, Caroline Bowden & Ellen Lucas.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 10th February 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Finance and Divorce Update – Family Law Week

Posted February 4th, 2014 in divorce, family courts, fees, financial provision, McKenzie friends, news by sally

‘Jessica Craigs, senior solicitor and David Salter, Joint Head of Family Law at Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the financial remedies and divorce news and cases published in January.’

Full story

Family Law Update, 2nd February 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Supporting the introduction of the single Family Court – Proposed changes to Family legal aid remuneration schemes – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 3rd, 2014 in budgets, consultations, equality, family courts, fees, legal aid, remuneration by tracey

‘The Government consulted on a proposal to change the current family legal aid fee payment schemes in October 2013. This document reflects the responses that we have received to the consultation and describes how the Government intends to proceed.’

Full document

Ministry of Justice, 31st January 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Escalating legal fees – why family judges need to “get a grip” – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted January 28th, 2014 in case management, civil procedure rules, costs, family courts, fees, news by sally

‘Legal fees in family proceedings hit the headlines with Young v Young – the now infamous seven year divorce case which saw £6.5m spent on one side’s legal costs alone.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 27th January 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Children: Public Law Update – Family Law Week

‘John Tughan, barrister of 4 Paper Buildings, analyses recent judgments in public law children cases and, in particular, the Re B-S line of authorities.’

Full story

Family Law Week, 24th January 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Pulling back the curtain of privacy in family and Court of Protection proceedings – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘New guidance on transparency in proceedings has been published by the President of the Family Division and of the Court of Protection, Sir James Munby.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 23rd January 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Geraldine Morris looks at the changes ahead for family law & predicts some new developments – New Law Journal

‘Lawyers may not always think of themselves as business people; family lawyers in particular are often very client focused, looking to achieve the best outcome for parties who are going through what will often be one of the worst periods of their lives. It can be hard, when weighed down with a busy caseload, to peak above the parapet and take time to reflect on how family law is changing. All businesses change over time, some faster than others. Change within the family law justice system has accelerated at an incredible pace in the last few years and 2014 will be no exception.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 22nd January 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Senior judge orders greater transparency in family court judgments – The Guardian

Posted January 17th, 2014 in Court of Protection, family courts, judgments, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘Many more judgments from some of the UK’s most secret hearings will be published in future, the judge in charge of the family court and the court of protection has ordered.’

Full story

The Guardian, 16th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Family judge ‘cannot control foreign media’ – BBC News

Posted January 15th, 2014 in anonymity, children, disclosure, family courts, foreign jurisdictions, judges, media, news by tracey

‘A senior family judge says he cannot stop the foreign media from publishing the story of a Slovakian mother whose son has been placed into care.’

Full story

BBC News, 14th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

I Want My Baby Back – BBC One Panorama

Posted January 13th, 2014 in adoption, evidence, expert witnesses, family courts, news, social services by tracey

‘John Sweeney investigates the secretive world of the family courts and asks whether some parents may have unfairly lost their children forever. BBC One 13th January 2014’

Further details

BBC One, 13th January 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk