By Georgina Baidoun, 4th October 2024 At 10.30am on 25 September 2024 I watched a hearing before DJ Ellington at First Avenue House, listed as below. Although listed as ‘in-person attended’, as with several other recent hearings, I had no difficulty in obtaining a link to observe remotely. It was a directions hearing concerning theContinue reading “When parties don’t appear in court and judge goes ahead anyway: Appointing a professional deputy”
Tag Archives: Open Justice
Closed hearings, safeguarding concerns, and financial interests v. best interests
By Daniel Clark, 2nd October 2024 The protected party in this case, “B”, is a thirty-year-old woman who, according to Counsel for her mother, has until recently been a “happy, well balanced, sociable person”. She enjoys spending time with her family and, until 2024, had been living with her mother at home. This case (COP 14116349)Continue reading “Closed hearings, safeguarding concerns, and financial interests v. best interests”
Judgment: An update to “A Catch 22 situation for P or Hobson’s Choice?” (and how access to court documents helps transparency and open justice)
By Amanda Hill, 24th September 2024 I’ve now been sent the (as yet unpublished) judgment in the case of “London Borough of Lambeth v CT & North Central London ICB” (issued 21 August 2024, additions made on 4 September 2024). This is the case I observed and blogged about last month: “A “Catch 22” situation for P or Hobson’s Choice? Disagreement amongContinue reading “Judgment: An update to “A Catch 22 situation for P or Hobson’s Choice?” (and how access to court documents helps transparency and open justice)”
Balancing open justice and P’s right to privacy: A protected party says NO to a public observer “and her voice shall be heard”
By Eleanor Tallon, 3rd September 2024 Editorial Note: The judgment (making this hearing private) has now been published: Stockport MBC v NN & Anor [2024] EWCOP 51 (T1) I was not able to observe this hearing because the protected party, N, said she did not want an observer as “she doesn’t know who they are orContinue reading “Balancing open justice and P’s right to privacy: A protected party says NO to a public observer “and her voice shall be heard””
A “Catch 22” situation for P or Hobson’s Choice? Disagreement among professionals as to whether P has capacity and a finely balanced decision for the judge
By Amanda Hill, 30th August 2024 “I want to get on with my life”. At the heart of this hearing (COP 14251478 on 20th August 2024) is P, a man who looks to be in his late 60s or early 70s. He attended remotely by video link from a psychiatric hospital and was present for most ofContinue reading “A “Catch 22” situation for P or Hobson’s Choice? Disagreement among professionals as to whether P has capacity and a finely balanced decision for the judge “
Capacity, Relaxing of Restrictions, and a Happy P!
By Hita Jadeja, 28th August 2024 I observed a hearing on 24th July 2024 (COP 13879770) before His Honour Judge Whybrow who was sitting remotely (via Cloud Video Platform [CVP]) as a nominated Court of Protection judge at the County Court and Family Court at Kingston upon Hull. The protected party (P) in this caseContinue reading “Capacity, Relaxing of Restrictions, and a Happy P!”
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”
Tangled webs, ‘enmeshment’, and breakdown of trust: Re A: (Covert medication: Closed Proceedings) – an implementation hearing
By Claire Martin, 18 August 2024 This case (COP 13236134) has been in the Court of Protection since 2018. The protected party (A) is a 25-year-old woman, who has been living in a care home under a Court of Protection order, for five years. If all goes according to plan, she will be back atContinue reading “Tangled webs, ‘enmeshment’, and breakdown of trust: Re A: (Covert medication: Closed Proceedings) – an implementation hearing “
Directions Hearing for a Life Sustaining Treatment Case
By Hita Jadeja, 14th August 2024 On 31 July 2024 I observed a hearing (COP 20000664) before Mrs Justice Theis sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice. An NHS Trust (‘the Trust’) has made an application concerning life-sustaining treatment for a middle-aged lady and this was a ‘directions’ hearing. Essentially directions hearings are held to prepareContinue reading “Directions Hearing for a Life Sustaining Treatment Case”
Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection 