Geraldine Morris outlines the recent rule changes arising from granting media access to family courts
Few areas of law are as newsworthy to the media as family proceedings. Following a concerted campaign by pressure groups and various government consultations, the family courts were opened to the media from the 27 April 2009. The media have quickly realised however that that access is subject to stringent rules.
Family proceedings courts
The Family Proceedings Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2009 (SI 2009/858) came into effect from the 27 April 2009 amending the Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991 (SI 1991/1395) and the Family Proceedings Courts (Child Support Act 1991) Rules 1993 (SI 1993/627).
The amendments concern the attendance of persons, in particular representatives of the media, during proceedings in the family proceedings court relating to children, and the communication of information relating to such proceedings. The new rules insert into the Family Proceedings Courts (Children Act 1989) Rules 1991 a new r 16A, which provides for who may be present during a hearing in “relevant proceedings”. This in particular allows for duly accredited
