25 September 2008
Re W [2008] EWCA Civ 538, [2008] All ER (D) 258 (May)
Before any meeting takes place between the judge and a child in a family case, the following should be considered:
(i) the format, structure, content and purpose of the meeting;
(ii) the role of the judge;
(iii) the participation and presence of others in or at the meeting;
(iv) what is to be passed on to anyone not present or represented at the meeting; (v) how matters asserted by a child to the judge are to be tested;
(vi) whether anything that is not passed on to the parties can be taken into account by the judge; and
(vii) what explanation is to be given to the child before and after the meeting.
