While family proceedings are normally private, accredited reporters have been allowed to attend since 2010 unless the court directs otherwise. Since October 2018, under a pilot scheme, the category of ‘reporter’ has been extended to include legal bloggers as well as journalists. Strict reporting restrictions operate to protect against the identification of children and minors.
In guidance issued this week, Sir Andrew states: ‘Courts should be astute to assist reporters seeking to attend a hearing, or to relax reporting restrictions, and should provide them with relevant contact details of the court office, the judge’s clerk and the parties where requested (unless there is good reason not to do so).’
He advises that judges should, at the start of a hearing, ask the reporter if they wish to make an application.
