Well, that didn’t take long. Last Friday, just 48 days on from implementation of fixed costs, the Civil Justice Council (CJC) hosted its 12th National Forum focused upon improving access to justice in a cost-of-living crisis. The biggest guns were rolled out. Our first Lady Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, and the deputy head of civil took to the stage. Only a week before the trio had sat together and heard the appeal in Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil. Can a court order parties to engage in alternative dispute resolution? What is the sanction to be if an obdurate litigant refuses to comply? We will have a judgment before Christmas.
At least there was ample seating in the Friends House, Euston, unlike the week before when I had to sit on the floor in court. The ever-thoughtful Sir Colin Birss popped over to deliver a personal apology for something out of his control.
Sir Geoffrey Vos opened proceedings at the forum and
