Behind Closed Doors: Journalists’ Access to the Family Courts Increased

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.