The Prurient Eye

This case concerning the Spencer Divorce is the second case I have seen reported where counsel have tried to argue for privacy within ancillary relief proceedings – and failed. The characteristic of both cases is that the argument was focussed on ousting the media from the hearing in the first place, rather than on restricting [...]

Writing About Family Proceedings – A Blogger’s Guide

Thinking about telling the world about the injustice you have suffered at the hands of the family court system? Understandably many parents who have been through family court proceedings want to blog or write about their experience of trying to get contact with their son or daughter, or about how the state wrongly took their children from [...]

The Fruits of Labour

Sigh….So many things I wanted to blog about this weekend and so little time…I have been alternating between watching my amazing boy walk a little bit further and a little bit further (we’re up to six steps in a row before the inevitable face plant), doing a mini ground force on my garden with some very [...]

Justice Select Committee Consider Family Legal Aid

The Justice Select Committee took evidence on Family Legal Aid earlier this week. Amongst the speakers were representatives from the FLBA, ALC, NAGALRO and NYAS, the Chief Executive of the LSC. The LSC were subjected to close questioning from the same MPs for about 30 mins regarding the lack of evidence to base for their [...]

Orphan Movie Upset

You can read an interesting post on Popehat here about the controversy Warner’s marketing of it’s new movie ORPHAN has stirred up. A charming and socially sensitive advertising campaign by the sound of it. But hey, it sells.

Behind Closed Doors – Judicial Shenanigans

The Guardian has lost in it’s attempt to secure details of the identities of Judges found guilty of misconduct or who have been reprimanded. I think maybe I’m missing something because my response to this was a bemused ‘hunh?’. . The Information Tribunal making the decision apparently cited the example of a very senior judge who [...]

O-VER-LOAD! [Dalek voice effect]

The Guardian reports that 7% of CAFCASS Guardian appointments in care cases are unallocated. That is 653 of a total of 9060 cases. The only surprise there is that the figure for unallocated cases is so low. You can’t get a Guardian for love nor money round these here parts, and Judges have all but [...]

Justice Committee Hearing TOMORROW!

For anyone at a loose end tomorrow, and with an interest in Family Fees… Family Fees: Justice Committee Hearing at Westminster – 16th June at 4.00 pm: The Justice Committee will hold a one-off evidence session looking at the Government’s proposals for the reform of family law legal aid and the conduct of consultation on [...]

No time for bloggin’

Just a little note before I rush off…it has been a busy couple of weeks and I foresee that I will not have much time for posting certainly next week at least. It’s one of the features of the job that your diary fills with clumps of work, and my diary is chockablock with hearings [...]

Ancillary to NOTHING

Where there is no lawful marriage there is no divorce and where there is no divorce there is nothing for ancillary relief to be ancillary to. The BBC reports on the High Court ruling recently in respect of a distant beach marriage that did not create legal ties. Did this poor lady never hear of Jerry [...]