‘How effectively are people with a cognitive impairment, mental health condition and/or neuro-diverse condition able to participate in proceedings in the justice system, particularly when they engage with that system via video or telephone link?’
Transparency Project, 24th April 2020
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
‘Guidance on the conduct of remote detailed assessments (DAs) has been produced to get the system moving during the lockdown.’
Litigation Futures, 23rd April 2020
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘This is a serious FII case, and concerned care proceedings involving a 7 year old child. It was alleged that the mother had falsely made a number of damaging claims that her child was suffering from a myriad serious ailments and health conditions. This was all hotly disputed by the mother, so the case was fully contested. It had been fixed several months previously for a 15 days fact finding and disposal hearing before a Judge at Guildford Law Courts. Following the lockdown, the Judge had decided the case would proceed as a remote hearing using the Skype video platform.’
Garden Court Chambers, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk
‘Whilst the civil courts adapt at short notice to working, by and large, remotely, invariably some hearings will continue for the foreseeable future to be adjourned to dates as yet unknown. In the circumstances, it might seem inevitable, or at least tempting (especially when many parties and their solicitors are faced with the difficulties associated with unexpectedly having to work from home at the same time as home schooling children), simply to wait on the court.’
Park Square Barristers, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk
‘It should be noted from the outset that Snowden J’s judgment in Re Carluccio’s is not binding. There were no representative employees or interested parties during the remote video hearing so the judgment does not bind the employees or the government.’
Pump Court Chambers, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com
‘Re P (A Child: Remote Hearing) (Rev 3) [2020] EWFC 32 is a decision of the President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice, Sir Andrew McFarlane, about whether or not a 15 day trial should go ahead remotely. The trial was set down within care proceedings to determine very serious allegations that the mother had harmed her seven-year-old daughter by fabricating or inducing illness (known in the trade as FII).’
Transparency Project, 23rd April 2020
Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk
‘In the current climate the court and all parties are having to grapple with the thorny issue of the appropriateness for a family law hearing to proceed remotely; particularly concerning contested issues.’
St Philips Chambers, 22nd April 2020
Source: st-philips.com
‘The Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls and President of the Family Division have written to Circuit and District Judges of the Civil and Family Courts to record their appreciation for the efforts being made across all parts of the judiciary to adapt to new styles of working during the pandemic. They observe that there has been a great deal that has been learned quickly about the practical benefits and limitations of conducting hearings remotely and extensive materials and support have been shared across the legal community to facilitate such hearings being undertaken.’
Spire Barristers, 20th April 2020
Source: spirebarristers.co.uk
‘Remote video trials could disadvantage people with learning disabilities, the equalities watchdog has warned, as courts switch to online hearings during the coronavirus crisis.’
The Guardian, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘It is not appropriate for a 15-day hearing into whether a mother has harmed her seven-year-old daughter to be held remotely, the president of the Family Court has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 22nd April 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘It is a brave new world. The lockdown brought about by the coronavirus crisis is forcing the hand of our infamously old-fashioned profession to adapt quickly or lose myriad court dates; leaving our clients without satisfactory and timely resolutions to their disputes.’
3PB, 19th April 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘The phrase “business as usual” has become cliché overnight. Hardwicke’s CDR team is attending hearings, drafting and advising and just as before. But, as regards litigation, the phrase is not wholly accurate. The courts are not operating as usual, solicitors and barristers are working remotely, and it’s not yet clear how the current crisis will impact the commercial litigation market. From that perspective the situation is very unusual.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 20th April 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
‘On 25 March 2020, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (‘the 2020 Act’) was given Royal Assent. Most of its provisions came into force immediately (s. 87). Almost all of them will expire within two years (s. 89). As an additional safeguard, Parliament is required to conduct a review of the legislation every six months (s. 98). The 2020 Act has, at least for the time being, radically changed the appearance of proceedings in the Crown Court: there will now be hearings where neither the parties nor the judge will actually be in court at all.’
6KBW College Hill, 2nd April 2020
Source: blog.6kbw.com
‘Campaign group Justice has run an experimental fully remote jury trial to test whether it could be a fair alternative to face-to-face hearings during the coronavirus lockdown.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘At the turn of the new year it would have been unthinkable to suggest that in just three months the majority of the courts in England and Wales would be closed, that is, at least in the physical sense. In the wake of Covid-19 the Courts have remained open for business however, most of that business is now being conducted in the virtual realm. From online mediations and applications to full-blown witness actions, this is a brave new world for most practitioners, particularly those in civil law, who are used to lugging paper-laden suitcases up and down the various Courts in the land.’
Falcon Chambers, 6th April 2020
Source: www.falcon-chambers.com
‘This was a review hearing for a quia timet injunction against ‘car cruising’ in areas of the Claimant local authorities before His Honour Judge Worster sitting as a High Court Judge in the QBD, Birmingham District Registry. ‘Car cruising’, or ‘street cruising’ as it is sometimes defined, is a congregation of two or more motor vehicles driving dangerously or in an anti-social way so as to cause nuisance, damage or danger to the public; usually gatherings to race or perform stunts in cars, motorbikes or quad bikes, which have been a particular problem in particular parts of Birmingham.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd April 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
‘It is a brave new world. The lockdown brought about by the coronavirus crisis is forcing the hand of our infamously old-fashioned profession to adapt quickly or lose myriad court dates; leaving our clients without satisfactory and timely resolutions to their disputes.’
3PB, 14th April 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘Snowden J gives urgently sought directions to administrators in respect of furlough arrangements with employees following a remote video hearing in the matter of Carluccio’s Limited (in administration) [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch).’
Exchange Chambers, 15th April 2020
Source: www.exchangechambers.co.uk
‘A broad experience is building up among advocates with the use of remote hearings. Although many courts are still using telephone links (and for many litigants who do not have access to more sophisticated technology, this will remain the default medium) the use of video links is becoming more of a normal experience.’
St John's Chambers, 8th April 2020
Source: www.stjohnschambers.co.uk
‘The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has launched a two-week rapid consultation on the use of remote hearings in the family justice system.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
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