*/
District Judge Monty Trent, the new President of the Association of District Judges, has called for district judges to be trained in mediation and expressed concern about the “dilapidated” state of county court buildings.
“It is high time for mediation and other alternative dispute resolution techniques to be part of the armoury of every civil court in higher value cases,” he said. “Instead of private or court-annexed mediation, district judges should be trained as mediators and employ their skills in achieving settlements.”
District Judge Trent, who sits at the Mayor’s and City of London Court and was formerly based at West London and Barnet County Courts, has been a full-time judge for 18 years. Curbs on justice expenditure, dilapidated courts and heavy staff turnover meant the system was “beginning to creak alarmingly”, he warned, with regular complaints of delays, mistakes and missing files.
He intends to press for legislation to make civil enforcement machinery more effective. Describing current systems of enforcement as a “mess”, he said: “One of the great weaknesses of the court system is its failure effectively to enforce its own court orders.” District Judge Paul Mildred, who sits at Bournemouth Combined Court Centre, has been elected senior vice-president, and District Judge Richard Chapman, who sits at Telford County Court, is the new junior vice-president.
District Judge Trent, who sits at the Mayor’s and City of London Court and was formerly based at West London and Barnet County Courts, has been a full-time judge for 18 years. Curbs on justice expenditure, dilapidated courts and heavy staff turnover meant the system was “beginning to creak alarmingly”, he warned, with regular complaints of delays, mistakes and missing files.
He intends to press for legislation to make civil enforcement machinery more effective. Describing current systems of enforcement as a “mess”, he said: “One of the great weaknesses of the court system is its failure effectively to enforce its own court orders.” District Judge Paul Mildred, who sits at Bournemouth Combined Court Centre, has been elected senior vice-president, and District Judge Richard Chapman, who sits at Telford County Court, is the new junior vice-president.
District Judge Monty Trent, the new President of the Association of District Judges, has called for district judges to be trained in mediation and expressed concern about the “dilapidated” state of county court buildings.
“It is high time for mediation and other alternative dispute resolution techniques to be part of the armoury of every civil court in higher value cases,” he said. “Instead of private or court-annexed mediation, district judges should be trained as mediators and employ their skills in achieving settlements.”
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
