‘There is no evidence to suggest that pre-recorded video evidence from complainants and witnesses in sexual offence trials reduces jury conviction rates, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th March 2025
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘New practice guidance ‘The use of Intermediaries, Lay Advocates and Cognitive Assessments in the Family Court’, was issued by the President of the Family Division on 23 January.’
Transparency Project, 27th January 2025
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘The High Court has rejected the evidence of an expert witness who had “little or no regard” to the Civil Procedure Rules and was “prepared materially to mislead the court”.’
Legal Futures, 13th December 2024
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Three-quarters of survivors of sexual violence are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, according to research.’
The Guardian, 10th October 2024
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘For cases issued after 21 July 2022, the Court has jurisdiction to appoint a Qualified Legal Representative (“QLR”). In family cases, the necessity for such an appointment usually arises upon application of section 65 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 or amendments to the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 which restricts litigants in person from cross-examining parties or witnesses in certain circumstances.’
Becket Chambers, 2nd July 2024
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
‘A judge accused of cross-examining an appellant during a hearing about a rejected residence card did not act fairly in his conduct and determination of the case, the Court of Appeal has found.’
Law Society's Gazette, 1st July 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘When a child suffers a head injury which medical professionals suspect may be inflicted, safeguarding processes are triggered, often leading to care proceedings and the removal of the child from the care of their parents, usuall y for many months and sometimes forever.’
Transparency Project, 27th June 2024
Source: transparencyproject.org.uk
‘Senior family lawyers have warned that a little-known pilot project centring on the role and use of expert evidence will see children wrongly taken from their families. The Department for Education-funded pilot is up and running at NHS trusts in Manchester, Sheffield and Birmingham with little information available to either the public or family law specialists.’
Law Society's Gazette, 24th June 2024
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Ullah v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 201 (06 March 2024). In a case raising an elementary issue of procedural fairness, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal of Mr Ullah—a Pakistani national—against the UT’s erroneous decision to dismiss his appeal reversing the FTT’s first instance decision to allow his appeal from the SSHD’s decision to make an order to deprive him of British citizenship.’
EIN Blog, 12th March 2024
Source: www.ein.org.uk
‘In this case, Catherine McAndrew, a Senior Associate in the Insurance and Reinsurance team at CMS, comments on the Supreme Court’s decision in TUI Limited v Griffiths [2023] UKSC 48, which was handed down on 29 November 2023.’
UKSC Blog, 26th January 2024
Source: ukscblog.com
‘The central question facing the Supreme Court in Griffiths v TUI UK Limited [2023] UKSC 48 concerned the extent to which a party must put criticisms of a witness’ evidence to him in cross-examination. The Supreme Court made clear that the general rule in civil cases is that a party is required to challenge by cross-examination the evidence of any witness (whether factual or expert) if he wishes to submit that the evidence should not be accepted by the court. Importantly, this rule is not confined to allegations that the witness is dishonest. The rule is, however, a flexible one; it will not always be necessary for every point of challenge to be put to a witness, and in some cases (such as where evidence is “manifestly incredible”) it may not apply at all. Although the Supreme Court gave a conceptually clear answer to the question before it, difficult practical issues are likely to continue to arise for trial advocates who wish to challenge factual or expert witness evidence.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd January 2024
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The Supreme Court today handed down its long-awaited judgment in the case of Griffths v TUI [2023] UKSC 48. It is a thorough, important, and helpful statement (or, depending on one’s view, re-statement) of the laws and rules of evidence, what must be put to a witness before that evidence can be challenged in closing submissions, and the limits on any Judge’s power to dismiss relevant evidence which has not been challenged (or challenged sufficiently) at trial. At the heart of the judgment is the Court’s assessment of what it means for the parties to have a fair trial.’
St John's Chambers, 29th November 2023
Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk
‘The Law Society has welcomed the announcement that expenses will be added to the qualified legal representative (QLR) scheme in domestic abuse cases, but says fees are still too low.’
Law Society's Gazette, 11th December 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Dispute Resolution analysis: An admitted contemnor subject to a suspended warrant for committal has been ordered to attend in person for cross examination in relation to the assets of a company he controlled. His request to attend the hearing remotely by video link from Connecticut was refused.’
Gatehouse Chambers, 15th September 2023
Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk
‘Rape victims who pre-record their evidence are more likely to have a better experience of the court process, findings published today (3 April 2023) reveal.’
Ministry of Justice, 3rd April 2023
Source: www.gov.uk
‘A woman who alleges that she was raped as a teenager by an older man has called for changes to the judicial process after finding the experience of going to trial traumatic.’
The Guardian, 12th March 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Family Courts are failing survivors of domestic abuse, according to 28 leading women’s charities, solicitors and survivors. A letter signed by the group has been delivered to Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab today, calling for urgent action to stop the practice of perpetrators of domestic abuse from cross examining their victims in court.’
Family Law, 20th February 2023
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘Victims of domestic abuse are still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrators in the family courts despite the “appalling practice” being banned by the Domestic Abuse Act, women’s charities and solicitors have told the lord chancellor.
Law Society's Gazette, 12th February 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘This article provides an overview of the court’s powers in limiting evidence heard during family court proceedings. I will be examining some key lessons on this topic as heard in the recent case of Mother v Father [2022] EWHC 3107 (Fam).’
Becket Chambers, 20th December 2022
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
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