Keep out! When justice cannot be seen to be done, how do we know it’s been done? – Transparency Project

‘Magistrates’ courts conducting family justice are now part of the Family Court, established in 2014, and subject to the same rules as those presided over by district, circuit and High Court judges. Under those rules, accredited media reporters and ‘legal bloggers’ (see below) are entitled to attend hearings even if they take place in private, though they can’t report anything without the court’s permission.’

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Transparency Project, 24th September 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Absence of Authority? – Financial Remedies Journal

‘In G v S (Family Law Act 1996: Publicity) [2024] EWFC 231 (B) (6 June 2024) HHJ Reardon asked:

“What is the default position in terms of publication in a case where s 12 [of the Administration of Justice Act 1969] does not apply?”’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 1st September 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Why we don’t know what’s going on in family courts – Transparency Project

Posted August 14th, 2024 in anonymity, families, family courts, news, reporting restrictions, statistics by sally

‘We hear a lot about ‘secret’ family courts because of reporting restrictions and family privacy, but there is more to genuine transparency than holding processes out in the open. To understand how a system is operating we need information based on reliable data across that system.’

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Transparency Project, 14th August 2024

Source: transparencyproject.org.uk

Teenager detained for life for murdering boy, 15 – BBC News

‘A 15-year-old boy who murdered Leeds teenager Alfie Lewis in a knife attack outside a primary school has been detained for life with a minimum term of 13 years.’

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BBC News, 21st June 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wolverhampton guilty verdicts raise issue of naming child killers – The Guardian

‘Some believe naming convicted children acts as deterrent, while others say it could glorify horrific acts.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judge allows reporting of case where DNA tests established that three abandoned babies were full sibliings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A newborn baby abandoned in Newham, East London, has been found – following DNA testing – to be the third child abandoned by the same parents.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th June 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court hears appeals over reporting restriction orders in withdrawal of treatment cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court is this week hearing an appeal over the discharge of reporting restriction orders (RROs) protecting the identity of medical professionals involved in the care of patients in respect of whom an application to withdraw treatment had been made.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Paedophiles could be stripped of parental rights under new law – BBC News

‘Paedophiles convicted of serious sexual offences could lose parental rights over their children under a new law.’

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BBC News, 17th April 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Brianna Ghey: Why teenagers who killed her can be named – BBC News

‘Two teenagers who murdered 16-year-old Brianna Ghey after devising a “kill list” of children to target will be named for the first time today.’

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BBC News, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

I’ve fought for years to report what really goes on in family courts. At last, journalists can – Louise Tickle – The Guardian

Posted February 1st, 2024 in family courts, media, news, pilot schemes, reporting restrictions by sally

‘Allowing journalists to report on hearings is welcome. Now editors need to give them the resources to be able to tell these complex stories properly.’

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The Guardian, 31st January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Austerity contributing to rise in children in care – head of Family Court – BBC News

‘Austerity has contributed to a rise in the number of children in care, the most senior judge in the family courts has told the BBC.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Use and Misuse of the Rubric in the Family Courts – Financial Remedies Journal

Posted January 12th, 2024 in anonymity, children, families, family courts, judgments, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘In a familiar line of cases of which the first was BT v CU [2021] EWFC 87, [2022] 1 WLR 1349, paras [100]–[114], and the last In re PP (A Child: Anonymisation) [2023] EWHC 330 (Fam), [2023] 4 WLR 48, paras [49]–[62], and Augousti v Matharu [2023] EWHC 1900 (Fam), paras [68]–[93], Mostyn J has explosively ignited a most necessary debate about the anonymisation of judgments in financial remedy cases. Part of his compelling analysis – which, so far as I am aware, no-one has yet succeeded in challenging successfully – relates to the use, or as he would have it, the inveterate misuse of the rubric attached to judgments in such cases.’

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Financial Remedies Journal, 8th January 2024

Source: financialremediesjournal.com

Almost half of family courts to allow reporting in England and Wales – BBC News

Posted January 12th, 2024 in anonymity, families, family courts, media, news, pilot schemes, reporting restrictions by sally

‘A pilot scheme to allow journalists and legal bloggers to report cases from three family courts in England and Wales is to be extended to almost half of the courts in the countries.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge wrong to block reporting of ‘highly contentious’ family case – Law Society’s Gazette

‘A family judge was wrong to make an order preventing the reporting of a case, an appeal judgment has ruled in a significant step for the opening of proceedings to the press.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 5th October 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lucy Letby trial: why the babies remain anonymous – The Guardian

‘The trial of Lucy Letby was conducted amid levels of press secrecy for victims and witnesses rarely seen outside proceedings involving matters of national security.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Family Division judge issues ruling on naming of magistrates and legal adviser – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 27th, 2023 in anonymity, children, magistrates, media, murder, news, reporting restrictions by sally

‘The High Court has ruled that magistrates and a legal adviser involved in decisions on the care of a murdered child, Finley Boden, can be named by the media.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

I’ve seen abusers use family courts to control and torment victims – but change is coming – The Guardian

‘A pilot scheme is inviting journalists into England and Wales’s most private courtrooms. This can expose those who use litigation as a weapon.’

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The Guardian, 29th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pilot scheme begins aimed at opening up proceedings in family courts – The Independent

Posted January 31st, 2023 in family courts, media, news, pilot schemes, reporting restrictions by tracey

‘A pilot scheme has started which aims to throw a light on the workings of the family court system.’

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The Independent, 30th January 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Media get the go-ahead to report family proceedings – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Journalists will be able to report on family court proceedings for the first time as part of a new pilot in a “big cultural change” to the Family Division. The hope is that the Transparency Reporting Pilot, to be conducted at three courts, will improve transparency and accountability.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th January 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pilot scheme to allow family court reporting for first time – Local Government Lawyer

‘Journalists will be able to report what happens in family courts from the end of January, under a pilot scheme taking place in Leeds, Cardiff and Carlisle.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 5th December 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk