Transparency Consultation Paper

The President of the Family Division has published a consultation paper entitled “Transparency – The Next Steps”.

The consultation follows the implementation since January 2014 of the Practice Guidance: Transparency in the Family Courts – Publication of Judgments and the general process of reform of the Family Justice System which is moving towards more open justice.

The President is welcoming responses to the consultation paper, which focusses on three primary areas:

1: Whether the existing practice direction can be improved;

2: Whether court listing systems can be reformed in order to make lists more informative;

3: What disclosure of documents ought to be made to the press in family cases?

The President poses a number of questions upon which he seeks the views of practitioners, and responses are encouraged.  It is important reading.  The consultation paper can be found here.