*/
Opening the family courts to the media has now settled “into a kind of limbo of uncertainty” the President of the Family Division has said.
Speaking about the changes in media reporting which allow accredited press the right to be present at private hearings of children proceedings, Sir Mark Potter commented: “Following the initial flurry of interest in the first few days, things have settled into a kind of limbo of uncertainty while the government works out the next step toward a coherent scheme in final form. Ministers have still to work out and give directions to their civil servants where their priorities lie between their professions of concern for the privacy and welfare of the child and their apparent desire to satisfy the demands of the press in relation to so-called transparency.”
However, he said that the government now plans “to introduce a Bill, in the next session of Parliament, to repeal s 12 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 and amend s 97(2) of Children Act 1989 and s 33 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 in so far as they relate to family cases”.
He warned that “if the new regime is not carefully thought out, the consequent burden and real cost will fall not on the media but on those judges, magistrates and advocates who will be required to consume time arguing and deciding press-related issues, rather than concentrating on the case in hand. At a time when the courts’ expanding workload is increasing with no additional judges or court days, this would be a particularly regrettable development.”
The development would also be “regrettable from the point of view of the profession: it would be yet another expense to be absorbed by them within any fee regime imposed upon them by the LSC and a yet a further disincentive to experienced advocates to engage in children work,” he added.
Sir Mark Potter was speaking at the Family Law Conference on 15 October.
However, he said that the government now plans “to introduce a Bill, in the next session of Parliament, to repeal s 12 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 and amend s 97(2) of Children Act 1989 and s 33 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 in so far as they relate to family cases”.
He warned that “if the new regime is not carefully thought out, the consequent burden and real cost will fall not on the media but on those judges, magistrates and advocates who will be required to consume time arguing and deciding press-related issues, rather than concentrating on the case in hand. At a time when the courts’ expanding workload is increasing with no additional judges or court days, this would be a particularly regrettable development.”
The development would also be “regrettable from the point of view of the profession: it would be yet another expense to be absorbed by them within any fee regime imposed upon them by the LSC and a yet a further disincentive to experienced advocates to engage in children work,” he added.
Sir Mark Potter was speaking at the Family Law Conference on 15 October.
Opening the family courts to the media has now settled “into a kind of limbo of uncertainty” the President of the Family Division has said.
Speaking about the changes in media reporting which allow accredited press the right to be present at private hearings of children proceedings, Sir Mark Potter commented: “Following the initial flurry of interest in the first few days, things have settled into a kind of limbo of uncertainty while the government works out the next step toward a coherent scheme in final form. Ministers have still to work out and give directions to their civil servants where their priorities lie between their professions of concern for the privacy and welfare of the child and their apparent desire to satisfy the demands of the press in relation to so-called transparency.”
Chair of the Bar sets out a busy calendar for the rest of the year
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Examined by Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
Time is precious for barristers. Every moment spent chasing paperwork, organising diaries, or managing admin is time taken away from what matters most: preparation, advocacy and your clients. That’s where Eden Assistants step in
AlphaBiolabs has announced its latest Giving Back donation to RAY Ceredigion, a grassroots West Wales charity that provides play, learning and community opportunities for families across Ceredigion County
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, outlines why barristers, solicitors, judges, social workers and local authorities across the UK trust AlphaBiolabs for court-admissible testing
Through small but meaningful efforts, we can restore the sense of collegiality that has been so sorely eroded, says Baldip Singh
Come in with your eyes open, but don’t let fear cloud the prospect. A view from practice by John Dove
Looking to develop a specialist practice? Mariya Peykova discusses the benefits of secondments and her placement at the Information Commissioner’s Office
Anon Academic explains why he’s leaving the world of English literature for the Bar – after all, the two are not as far apart as they may first seem...
Review by Stephen Cragg KC
