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Expert witnesses fear for their personal security in family law cases that are reported by the press. The media were given limited powers to report family law cases including adoption, care proceedings and divorce, in April. During a quest ion and answer session with senior family judge, Lord Justice Wall, at the Bond Solon expert witness conference in November, several experts expressed concern that, if their personal details were made public, aggrieved family members would cause problems f or t hem. Some e xpe r t sthought it would be difficult to anonymise reports suffi ciently. Wall LJ sympathised with their concerns. In his speech, he recommended that a detailed protocol be adopted to ensure fair reporting, following discussions between lawyers, experts and the press. “Th e disadvantage is that we are in the hands of the media, which is interested in personalities, not issues,” he said.
Expert witnesses fear for their personal security in family law cases that are reported by the press. The media were given limited powers to report family law cases including adoption, care proceedings and divorce, in April. During a quest ion and answer session with senior family judge, Lord Justice Wall, at the Bond Solon expert witness conference in November, several experts expressed concern that, if their personal details were made public, aggrieved family members would cause problems f or t hem. Some e xpe r t sthought it would be difficult to anonymise reports suffi ciently. Wall LJ sympathised with their concerns. In his speech, he recommended that a detailed protocol be adopted to ensure fair reporting, following discussions between lawyers, experts and the press. “Th e disadvantage is that we are in the hands of the media, which is interested in personalities, not issues,” he said.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
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The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts