By Daniel Clark, 13th November 2024 Headlines in 2016 described the Court of Protection as a “most sinister” and “most secret” court. It ‘left a 94-year-old without savings or dignity’. Looking back from the perspective of 2024 at the early years of the Court of Protection (since its modern incarnation in 2007), it is clearContinue reading “A review of transparency and open justice in the Court of Protection”
Tag Archives: Legal Practice
Cross-jurisdictional challenges and Schedule 3 in a case of anorexia: Health Service Executive of Ireland v SM [2024] EWCOP 60
By Sydney White, 11th November 2024 This case (COP 13398706) concerns a young woman (SM) with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and a history of depressive episodes. She’s “habitually resident” in Ireland but has for some time been receiving treatment at Ellern Mede, a specialist eating disorder provider in England. Hayden J has heard this case beforeContinue reading “Cross-jurisdictional challenges and Schedule 3 in a case of anorexia: Health Service Executive of Ireland v SM [2024] EWCOP 60”
A is back home and taking her medication voluntarily: The final hearing in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings)
By Claire Martin, 23rd October 2024 Editorial note: Another observer (Meg Niven Withers, a social worker) also watched this same hearing and has blogged separately here: Moving forward in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings): A social work perspective The case (Re: A) has been in the Court of Protection since 2018 and we’ve been following itContinue reading “A is back home and taking her medication voluntarily: The final hearing in Re A (Covert Medication: Closed Proceedings)”
Can the court require certain information to be reported and specific words to be used as a condition of publication about proceedings?
‘The court gives permission asked for in paragraphs 1 & 2 on condition that […] the family members are referred to as “they/them” instead of [xxxxxxxx redacted – the words were conventional gendered pronouns]…. any publication should record that there was no formal application made by any party to convert the proceedings from private to public, save for there being a short discussion at the beginning of the hearing’
Fifteen Top Transparency Tips for Judges
By the Core Team of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project, 15th October 2024 The Open Justice Court of Protection Project (henceforth OJCOP) was founded by Celia Kitzinger and Gill Loomes-Quinn in June 2020 to support and promote the judicial aspiration for transparency in the Court of Protection, by encouraging members of the publicContinue reading “Fifteen Top Transparency Tips for Judges”
Elucidating the meaning of deprivation of liberty orders: HHJ Burrows and local authority at cross-purposes on DOLS and care plans
By Celia Kitzinger, 10th October 2024 Update: The judgment has now been published (click on the link in the title of the case): Bury Metropolitan Borough Council v EM & Ors [2024] EWCOP 76 (T2). The judge refers to the protected party as “Emma” in that judgment, so I’ve amended this blog to reflect that.Continue reading “Elucidating the meaning of deprivation of liberty orders: HHJ Burrows and local authority at cross-purposes on DOLS and care plans”
Can a Turkish Guardianship Order be recognised in England and Wales?
By Daniel Clark, 29 September 2024 This case began as an urgent application to the Court of Protection in August 2023. It wasn’t until May 2024 that it came before a judge. In August 2023, XY (who resides in Turkey) was visiting the UK with her brother, CD. She has done this many times but,Continue reading “Can a Turkish Guardianship Order be recognised in England and Wales? “
What to do if the Transparency Order prevents you from naming a public body
By Celia Kitzinger, 27th August 2024 It’s probably safe to assume – unless you’re told otherwise – that if a Transparency Order prevents you from naming a public body, it’s a mistake. That’s been true of the vast majority of cases we’ve encountered. But even when it’s a mistake, if it’s in a court Order,Continue reading “What to do if the Transparency Order prevents you from naming a public body”
Prohibition on identifying Public Guardian is “mistake not conspiracy”, says Judge
By Celia Kitzinger and Georgina Baidoun, 21st August 2024 (Updated 9th November after receiving response from HMCTS) On 1st February 2024 a member of the public, Georgina Baidoun, observed a hearing concerning an application by the Public Guardian to discharge an attorney. She was sent a Transparency Order prohibiting her from identifying “the OPG” (the Office of the PublicContinue reading “Prohibition on identifying Public Guardian is “mistake not conspiracy”, says Judge”
She wants to tell her Court of Protection story but will the court allow her?
By Amanda Hill, 6th August 2024 This is a blog about an application to change (“vary”) a Transparency Order, the order restricting what can be reported from a Court of Protection hearing. Unlike many other blog posts about applications to change Transparency Orders, the application this time isn’t from a member of the Open Justice Court ofContinue reading “She wants to tell her Court of Protection story but will the court allow her? “
Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection 