Head of family division puts his foot down
Sir James Munby, head of the family division, has warned practitioners that “radical” reforms to speed up cases and cut costs must work.
In an update issued to family practitioners, Sir James said the courts would have to comply with restrictions on the use of experts and the new 26-week time limit for care cases, which is being introduced following recommendations made in the Norgrove report.
“Remember, 26 weeks is a deadline, not a target; it is a maximum, not an average or a mean,” he said.
Nor should family lawyers expect any more money, he warned. “We have to realise that public finances remain in a dire state and that asking for more money, more judges, more this, more that, is simply crying for the moon.”
Magistrates will play a “vitally important part” in family work, doing both public and private work, Sir Munby added.
He also intends to take steps to improve access to and reporting of family proceedings.
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