By Celia Kitzinger, 28th July 2024 Why were members of the public asked to pay £626 to read skeleton arguments from a case in the Court of Appeal? Not me. I got them for free after I asked the lawyers, one of whom asked the judges during the course of the hearing whether I could haveContinue reading “Transparency requires free and timely public access to skeleton arguments in the Court of Appeal”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Court of Protection at its best?
By Georgina Baidoun, 24th July 2024 The Open Justice Court of Protection Project posted the following alert on X and I felt I should rise to the occasion, given that the appointment of deputies for property and financial affairs is my particular interest area. The court listing isn’t specific about the type of deputy but thereContinue reading “The Court of Protection at its best?”
Anonymising P and his family in the courtroom: An unnecessary and unhelpful precaution
By Amanda Hill, 21st July 2024 This blog is about an all-remote hearing before a judge (HHJ Brown) who ruled – very unusually for a Court of Protection hearing – that no parties’ names should be used in the course of the hearing. She asked for the protected party (P) to be refered to with an initial all the time, rather than by his first name. SheContinue reading “Anonymising P and his family in the courtroom: An unnecessary and unhelpful precaution”
Appointment of a Deputy – and some good news for transparency
By Georgina Baidoun, 16th July 2024 I was interested in this hearing (COP 13826049) before DJ Griffiths sitting at Exeter on 11th July 2024 because it was listed as concerning the appointment of a deputy for property and affairs. Before the hearing began I was surprised to find that the Transparency Order I was sent in advance ofContinue reading “Appointment of a Deputy – and some good news for transparency”
Anorexia and the capacity to make decisions about nutritional intake
By Ty Glover, 14th July 2024 Back in 2007, a spate of television programs focused on “size 0” and “super skinny” bodies with the focus being on the then (and now) fashionable trend for size 0 models. Although I did not watch all of those programs, I recall one in which Louise Redknapp, wife of former footballerContinue reading “Anorexia and the capacity to make decisions about nutritional intake”
Complex issues for the court and plans for an ‘omnibus’ capacity hearing
By Claire Martin, 9th July 2024 At the centre of this case is Mrs G who has come to the attention of the court because carers have alleged that her daughter is abusing her. Mrs G is said to complain to carers about her daughter’s behaviour, and then to retract these statements later. Her capacity to decide aboutContinue reading “Complex issues for the court and plans for an ‘omnibus’ capacity hearing”
Daughter’s home in jeopardy when mother dies and father lacks capacity
By Georgina Baidoun, 4th July 2024 This case caught my attention because it was listed (see below) as concerning “authorising a gift or settlement of property” – and it turned out to be a substantial gift (a house). My request to observe the 11.00am hearing (COP 13569463) before DJ Ellington was answered with a linkContinue reading “Daughter’s home in jeopardy when mother dies and father lacks capacity”
Exemplary open justice: An in-person hearing at Teesside Combined Court
By Claire Martin, 2nd July 2024 I have observed more than sixty Court of Protection remote hearings (via MS Teams or Cloud Video Platform) but only one hearing in person, at a regional court (Newcastle). There were real challenges with that one – such as no listing of the hearing on the noticeboards at the court and no courtContinue reading “Exemplary open justice: An in-person hearing at Teesside Combined Court “
Prohibitive Transparency Orders: Honest mistakes or weaponised incompetence?
by Daniel Clark, 28th June 2024 I try not to see conspiracy behind the multiple transparency failures of the Court of Protection. The judicial system is busy and overstretched, and mistakes are (unfortunately) inevitable: links won’t be sent in time, listings won’t be always accurate, video links won’t always be set up. However, I mustContinue reading “Prohibitive Transparency Orders: Honest mistakes or weaponised incompetence? “
What does a Deputy for finances do?
By Ruth Meyer, 26th June 2024 I am quite often asked by people what I do in my job. The role of Deputy for finances appointed by the Court of Protection does not really mean much to many and probably sounds a bit scary! I’ve been a Deputy for about 11 years although I have beenContinue reading “What does a Deputy for finances do?”
Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection 