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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.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
