Media Access to the Family Courts: A Guide to the New Rules and their Application

In UK courts, rule changes came into force on April 27, 2009, which allows media representatives, and any other unaccredited person whom the court permits, to attend most family proceedings. The rules also provide that the court can exclude such representatives from all (or part) of individual hearings for reasons set out in the relevant Practice Direction. This book provides an essential examination of the extent of these UK reforms and analyzes how they should operate in practice. Representations to the court are made orally and usually without notice. Thus immediate access to the relevant source material is critical for both lawyers and the media.