NMA To Respond To Family Court Reporting Consultation

The President of the Family Division is consulting on draft guidance as to reporting the family courts which is intended to provide greater clarity and guidance in relation to applications by journalists to vary/lift statutory reporting restrictions.

It helpfully encourages courts ‘to be astute’ to assist journalists who wish to attend hearings or relax reporting restrictions, sets out the procedure for courts to consider journalists’ representations and makes clear that journalists should not normally be at risk of costs orders for making an application.

The NMA will respond before the 30 June deadline.