NEWS
Dec 10, 2019
High Court to hear argument on lawfulness of short form and visual age assessments
A High Court judge will today (10 November) consider the lawfulness of short form and visual age assessments in a case brought by the Refugee Council on behalf of the claimant.
Dec 06, 2019
Council directly discriminated against couple with Sikh Indian heritage in provision of adoption services, judge rules
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and Adopt Berkshire directly discriminated against a couple of Sikh Indian heritage in the provision of adoption services, on the grounds of race, a County Court judge has ruled.
Dec 05, 2019
Trafficked woman loses judicial review challenge amid age assessment confusion
A trafficked Vietnamese woman has lost a judicial review against two councils over her age assessment, though the judge involved criticised both authorities for failing to resolve the matter earlier.
Dec 05, 2019
Working group makes 22 recommendations to tackle shortage of medical experts prepared to work with family courts
A working group seeking solutions to the dearth of medical experts willing to work in the family courts has made 22 recommendations for change including a simpler process for payment and allowing courts work to be part of employment contracts.
Dec 04, 2019
Thirteen barristers to join family law team at Parklane Plowden Chambers
A group of 13 barristers specialising in family law are to move next year to Parklane Plowden Chambers.
Nov 29, 2019
Court of Appeal hands down key ruling on nature of 'secure accommodation'
Premises used to accommodate a 15-year-old girl became "secure accommodation" within the meaning of s.25(1) of the Children Act 1989, even though they were not designed as such, because of the use to which they were put in her case, the Court of Appeal has ruled.
Nov 28, 2019
Senior judge rules on extent of anonymisation of two public law children judgments
Lord Justice Baker has given permission for two judgments he made in the Family Court to be published in full, except for identification of the child involved, following the end of criminal proceedings against the parents.
Nov 21, 2019
Councils, Directors of Children’s Services urge investment on 30th anniversary of Children Act 1989
There is “still much to do if we are to become a country that works for all children”, the President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has said on the 30th anniversary of the landmark Children Act 1989.
Nov 19, 2019
Court of Appeal allows appeal over care and placement orders over failure by judge to give adequately reasoned judgment
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal brought by a great-aunt from care and placement orders made by a judge at the conclusion of proceedings concerning a two-year-old boy, J.
Nov 15, 2019
Court of Appeal orders “unprecedented” second retrial in care proceedings following death of 10-year-old girl
The Court of Appeal has ordered a second retrial in care proceedings relating to five siblings following the death of a ten-year-old girl in 2016, describing the judgment from the first retrial as“wrong and procedurally unjust”.
Nov 14, 2019
Judge allows inter-country adoption to proceed despite failure to comply with pre-adoption requirements
An application for an inter-country adoption should not fail because of inconsequential errors made by the intending adopter, a High Court Family Division judge has ruled.
Nov 14, 2019
City council defeats judicial review challenge over age assessment
Manchester City Council has defeated a judicial review challenge in a dispute about the age of a young man who immigrated from Guinea.