‘“No” appears to be the short answer. This is a recent decision (this month) where the High Court upheld a decision by a lay bench not to permit oral evidence of the parties at a private law final hearing. The court held that it was a legitimate exercise of the court’s case management powers. This judgment may surprise some people, and it would be interesting to see what the Court of Appeal would decide if it was further appealed.’
Becket Chambers, 21st December 2022
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
