Family
The judge who deals with a fact-finding hearing in residence and contact cases—normally on whether or not there has been domestic violence— should also take the final hearing. Exceptions may only be made where that would cause delay and child detriment would outweigh fair trial detriment. The President’s Practice Direction on these hearings of 9 May 2008 (see NLJ 158, 7326, p 893) has been beefed up by his revision of 14 January 2009 [2009] All ER (D) 122 (Jan) to reflect the decision of the House of Lords in Re B (Children) [2008] 4 All ER 1. The same principles should be followed in the family proceedings courts.
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