Jack Straw has announced that family court hearings in county courts and the High Court are to be opened to the media from 27 April, subject to Parliamentary approval.
The already more open arrangements in Family Proceedings (Magistrates’) Courts will continue.
He also announced that media representatives who attend family courts must be holders of the UK Press Card.
Accredited media will be able to attend all levels of family courts, removing the existing inconsistency of access between magistrates’ courts and the county and High Courts. The court will be able to restrict attendance if the welfare of the child requires it, or for the safety and protection of parties or witnesses.
Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Justice, said:
‘Public confidence in the justice system is a necessary and vital part of a democratic society. I want to ensure that reforms to the family courts system increase their accountability to the public.
‘People need to trust the justice system. One important way is by creating a more open, transparent and accountable system while protecting children and families during a difficult and traumatic time in their lives.’
Notes to editors
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Statutory Instruments were laid before Parliament today to amend rules of court. This will mean that, subject to Parliamentary approval, hearings in family proceedings (except for adoption and related proceedings) in county courts and the High Court will be opened to the media from 27 April.
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The Right Honourable Jack Straw MP’s oral statement in the House of Commons and the paper Family Justice in View.
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Media representatives who attend must be accredited. This will be through the existing UK Press Card scheme, which has a wide membership, and is open to those working wholly or mainly in the media. It is not, however, open to bloggers, those who write an occasional newsletter, or to foreign media not working in the UK.
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Family law cases in 2007 (all figures rounded) England and Wales
Public law applications*
Family Proceedings Court: 14,100
county court: 5,700
High Court: 700
Private law applications**
Family Proceedings Court: 19,600
county court: 86,800
High Court: 700
Adoptions: 4,700 children
Domestic violence injunctions
Family Proceedings Court/county court: 24,500
Petitions for divorce
county court/High Court: 137,500
Financial orders on divorce
county court/High Court: 105,800
*including care, supervision, and emergency protection.
**parental disputes about the upbringing of children, counted by child.
For more media enquiries please contact the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 0203 334 3536. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice public enquiry unit via email or by phone on 020 3334 3555.
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