The family court reporting pilot was introduced in January 2023. Prior to this, accredited journalists were permitted to attend family hearings but required permission from the court to report on anything heard in the case.
Under the initial pilot, journalists were permitted to report on public law proceedings in 19 family courts in England and Wales but only three of those courts permitted coverage of private law cases: Leeds, Cardiff, and Carlisle.
The pilot has now been extended to include coverage of private law cases in all 19 participating courts, although journalists are not at liberty to disclose the identities of those involved. This initiative is part of the judiciary’s efforts to, as stated by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division: “increase transparency and improve public confidence in, and understanding of, the family justice system”.
The full list of participating courts is Birmingham, Cardiff, Carlisle, Central Family Court, Dorset, East London, Guidlford, Kingston-upon-Hull, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Stoke, Truro, West London, and West Yorkshire.
After a divorce or separation, parents may have to pay private school fees under a court order. But what if the school fees are no longer affordable (or are claimed not to be)?
Read moreThe much-anticipated Employment Rights Bill was published on Thursday 10 October. Running to over 150 pages it is likely to be one of the biggest overhauls to workers’ rights and Employment law in nearly 30 years.
Read moreIf you are considering separating from your partner, the process of divorce can seem daunting. You are not alone in feeling like this and the family team at SMB are regularly asked about the process of divorce and mediation. Below we have compiled some of the most popular questions that clients ask us about mediation to help sign post you to your next steps.
Read more