The Transparency pilot in a select number of family courts has been extended to now allow accredited journalists and legal bloggers to report on what they see and hear in private law cases, including children matters. This is another significant step in enhancing transparency within the family justice system and building trust and confidence.
Background to the pilot
The pilot was originally launched by the Family Division’s Transparency Implementation Group in January 2023, initially in three courts, Leeds, Cardiff and Carlisle. The media were able to report on certain public law cases, within specific regulations and under anonymity rules. In January 2024, after a ‘pioneering year of reporting’, the scheme was extended to sixteen further courts, including Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Dorset. In addition, private law cases were opened to the media in the original three courts.
The Transparency Pilot aims to improve trust in the court system, and by encouraging journalists to witness cases, the hope was that journalists would use their rights to raise public awareness of the workings of the family courts.
Although there have been concerns about the potential discomfort the presence of journalists could cause to families going through a court case, the pilot is being carefully monitored by the Transparency Implementation Group, with strict anonymity rules.
The pilot has already seen significant successes and coverage, including a mini-series on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, the Press Association, BBC news, the Sunday Times, and the Guardian, to name just a few. In after the first year, President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane hailed the pilot as a ‘pioneering year of reporting’.
Extension July 2024
As of 15th July 2024, the pilot has been extended to now allow reporters access to private law cases, including children matters, in the latter sixteen courts. The control measures remain in place, and reporting is at the judge’s discretion, and if permitted, will be under a Transparency Order, protecting families and specifically children.
The judiciary is committed to fostering a better understanding of the family justice system and improving confidence in it. The pilot aims to provide insight into the handling of public and private law cases, considering that one of the biggest barriers to people seeking legal help is the misinformation around court and legal processes.
