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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.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
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
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
