President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane has called for a “major shift in culture” in the family courts. In recent days, the Transparency in the Family Courts report has been published, in which widespread reforms are proposed. A key proposal detailed in the report will allow journalists to report publicly on what goes on in the family court, to increase transparency, with the hope that increased public confidence in the family justice system will follow.

Eleanor Lowes, Silk Family Law solicitor, comments that:

“The proposed changes will no doubt prove controversial, as it is unlikely that those families who use the court will want their disputes to be made public. As is noted by Sir Andrew McFarlane, a careful balance needs to be struck between openness and maintaining confidentiality.”

It is intended that the reforms will be implemented over the coming months and years.

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Read the judiciary.uk press release here.