By Amanda Hill, formerly known as Anna 8th March 2024 I had tried to observe a hearing before District Judge Bland a few days before this one, but due to problems with technology, I hadn’t been able to, as I wrote about here. I was pleased, therefore, that I was able to observe this hearing.Continue reading ““I’ve said my piece” – a social worker on long-term sick leave, a lack of communication and a frustrated judge”
Tag Archives: Open Justice
Life-Sustaining Treatment applications: Hayden J confirms guidance in Re EUP
By Hita Jadeja, 7th March 2024 I am a solicitor with a background in commercial dispute resolution and inhouse advisory work. I have developed a strong interest in the field of health and social care law, mental capacity and mental health law. My background in litigation is useful, but health and social care law, mental capacityContinue reading “Life-Sustaining Treatment applications: Hayden J confirms guidance in Re EUP”
A tribute to E: How anorexia and ‘Re E’ made me a Court of Protection lawyer
By Anonymous COP Lawyer, 3rd March 2024 (with commentary from barrister Pippa Pudney – keep scrolling down) In a recent blog post, Dr Ty Glover described his experiences working with anorexia nervosa patients, including ‘E’, whose prominent Court of Protection case in 2012 resulted in involuntary treatment being found to be in her best interests. ThisContinue reading “A tribute to E: How anorexia and ‘Re E’ made me a Court of Protection lawyer”
“Apologies for any inconvenience caused”: A failure of open justice
By Amanda Hill, 29th February 2024 I find that that watching hearings is a very different experience to reading a blog or a judgment after the event. When watching a hearing, you see how justice is done step by step, in real time. Being able to observe hearings is a vital component of open justice and IContinue reading ““Apologies for any inconvenience caused”: A failure of open justice”
When families want to tell their story: Discharging a transparency order
By Celia Kitzinger (Intervenor) and “Anna” (Amanda Hill) (Observer), 27 February 2024 Update: The judgment is available here: The judgment is available here: In the Matter of VS (deceased) [2024] EWCOP 6 Back in 2014, Mr Justice Munby, then President of the Court of Protection, expressed concern that the court was “saddled … with theContinue reading “When families want to tell their story: Discharging a transparency order”
Lasting Powers of Attorney: The problem with leaving it too late
by George Palmer, 26th February 2024 Many people are unaware that you can appoint another person to make decisions on behalf of your health and welfare and/or your financial affairs if you ever lose the capacity to make these decisions for yourself. This involves appointing someone as your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). You can checkContinue reading “Lasting Powers of Attorney: The problem with leaving it too late”
Expert witness in Anorexia cases
By Ty Glover, 25th February 2024 I’m a Consultant in Eating Disorders Psychiatry, an Independent Medicolegal Expert and a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists for over 25 years. My clinical career has been spent managing acutely unwell NHS patients in Independent Sector Hospitals, primarily patients suffering with severe Anorexia Nervosa but also thoseContinue reading “Expert witness in Anorexia cases”
Inaudible in-person proceedings: A practical barrier to transparency and open justice
By Tim Sugden, 21st February 2024 It’s not open justice if you can’t hear what is being said in the courtroom. My experience is that this is a recurrent problem in magistrates’ courts – and now I’ve found the same problem in the Court of Protection as well. My experiences in magistrates’ courts with CourtwatchContinue reading “Inaudible in-person proceedings: A practical barrier to transparency and open justice”
“Private” Hearings: An Audit
By Celia Kitzinger, 1 February 2024 The vast majority of hearings in the Court of Protection are open to the public – but almost every day there are also hearings listed as “PRIVATE”. My decision to take a closer look at “PRIVATE” hearings was made one Autumn day last year when I checked the listingsContinue reading ““Private” Hearings: An Audit”
Two law students’ first observation of a COP hearing
By Kei Yong and Isabella Treston, 31 January 2023 As two students studying the Bar Practice Course and Masters of Law in Liverpool, we were given the opportunity to attend remote hearings in the Court of Protection as part of our Masters. Neither of us had previously attended or known a lot of information regardingContinue reading “Two law students’ first observation of a COP hearing”
Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection 