The Transparency Reporting Pilot For Financial Remedy Proceedings launched in January 2024 has been extended to 29 January this year and will now encompass all financial remedy proceedings taking place in courts in England and Wales.
Following the end of the current scheme, it will be extended for a further year, from 30 January 2026 to 29 January 2027.
The pilot began on 29 January 2024 in Birmingham, Leeds and the Central Family Court. In November 2024, the scheme was extended to the Royal Courts of Justice.
The reporting initiative introduces a presumption that accredited media and legal bloggers may report on what they see and hear during family court cases, subject to strict rules of anonymity.
The ability to report is being piloted to make sure it can be done safely and with minimum disruption to those involved in the cases and the courts, the Judiciary said.
Following its introduction, the Judiciary praised the “groundbreaking coverage” of public and private law cases, which included a mini-series on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, with reporting on the BBC News website and in the Sunday Times, the Economist, the Guardian and the Observer, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and others.
One Response
“The reporting initiative introduces a presumption that accredited media and legal bloggers may report on what they see and hear during family court cases, subject to strict rules of anonymity”. The initiative sounds promising. If the media, legal bloggers are permitted to report on what they say and hear in family law cases then then such an initiative should also be extended to allowing them to sit into mediations as well and other forms of dispute resolution – not just in the Courts.
Furthermore the reporting should be subject to strict data protection legislation. I think anonymity is just the tip the iceberg regarding such forums.
Also anyone wanting to come in to do reporting – should have as a basic requirement – at least evidence of accredited/regulated certificate which covers all the necessary training on data protection, privacy, etc obtained within the last 12 months .
The speed at which digital and electronic technology is changing means that greater scrutiny is required on not only the persons in Court but also those attending to report such events.
Much like in the academic profession where articles are peer reviewed before publication – the same should apply in such forums.