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The Bar Council has advised against extended court sittings, as a petition rejecting the government’s proposals garners more than 4,200 signatories.
A Protocol on Court Sitting Hours, published by the Bar Council, suggested that courts and tribunals should only sit between 10am and 4.30pm, except in cases of ‘genuine urgency’ or where a judge considers it is in the interests of justice to extend a hearing. Where the latter is the case it said the judge should give all parties at least 24 hours’ notice.
The Bar Council said the protocol was not a direct response to HMCTS’s planned Flexible Operating Hours pilots, but that the proposals ‘run counter to our attempts to improve the retention of women at the Bar’.
It said a ‘tendency has developed to list cases increasingly early or late’ which has ‘widespread implications’ for the ability of barristers to manage their practices, wellbeing and caring or personal commitments.
Under the government’s plan, to be piloted in six court centres, Crown courts would start sitting at 9am, and sit until 6pm instead of finishing at 4pm, civil courts will sit until 7pm and magistrates’ courts until 8.30pm.
An online petition opposing the scheme, started by Morweena Macro, a commercial and Chancery barrister at Five Paper Buildings, has gained more than 4,200 signatures.
An HMCTS spokesman said: ‘We are exploring flexible operating hours in six pilot courts to test how we can improve access to justice for everyone by making the service more convenient for working people.’
The Bar Council has advised against extended court sittings, as a petition rejecting the government’s proposals garners more than 4,200 signatories.
A Protocol on Court Sitting Hours, published by the Bar Council, suggested that courts and tribunals should only sit between 10am and 4.30pm, except in cases of ‘genuine urgency’ or where a judge considers it is in the interests of justice to extend a hearing. Where the latter is the case it said the judge should give all parties at least 24 hours’ notice.
The Bar Council said the protocol was not a direct response to HMCTS’s planned Flexible Operating Hours pilots, but that the proposals ‘run counter to our attempts to improve the retention of women at the Bar’.
It said a ‘tendency has developed to list cases increasingly early or late’ which has ‘widespread implications’ for the ability of barristers to manage their practices, wellbeing and caring or personal commitments.
Under the government’s plan, to be piloted in six court centres, Crown courts would start sitting at 9am, and sit until 6pm instead of finishing at 4pm, civil courts will sit until 7pm and magistrates’ courts until 8.30pm.
An online petition opposing the scheme, started by Morweena Macro, a commercial and Chancery barrister at Five Paper Buildings, has gained more than 4,200 signatures.
An HMCTS spokesman said: ‘We are exploring flexible operating hours in six pilot courts to test how we can improve access to justice for everyone by making the service more convenient for working people.’
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
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
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
