Transparency enthusiasts may be interested in this exciting series of free webinars running in January to March, investigating openness and press reporting of our courts and tribunals. The webinars have been organised by Transparency Project journalist Louise Tickle and are supported by Bath Publishing. The webinars are free, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation, which will go to Advocate (formerly Bar Pro Bono Unit). Louise has put together an impressive series of panels, who will traverse a range of aspects of open justice, both in the family justice sphere and more widely.
On 21 Jan : Does being watched change how justice is done? The role and function of observers in trials, inquests, family courts and tribunals.
The panel will include :
- Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC: human rights and media specialist barrister, Doughty St Chambers
- Dr George Julian: knowledge transfer consultant and live tweeter of inquests
- Prof Celia Kitzinger and Gill Loomes-Quinn: Open Justice Court of Protection Project
- Lucy Reed: children barrister, St John’s Chambers, chair of The Transparency Project
- Louise Tickle: journalist, director of Scrutiny
- Nick Wallis: investigative journalist, the Post Office trial
- Dr Sara Ryan: mother of Connor Sparrowhawk, campaigner Justice for Laughing Boy
On 4 Feb : Silence in court: what is lost – and who gains – when the state bans family members from speaking out?
The panel will include :
- Sir James Munby: immediate past President of the Family Division of the High Court
- Emma Norton: solicitor and founder, The Centre for Military Justice
- Paul Bernal: associate professor in information technology, intellectual property and media law, the University of East Anglia
- Brian Farmer: reporter, PA Media
- Mark Neary: father of Steven Neary
- Lucy Reed: children barrister, St John’s Chambers, chair of The Transparency Project
On 18 Feb : In pursuit of social justice – is a hearing held in public enough to hold the state to account?
The panel will include :
- Tor Butler Cole QC: – barrister specialising in inquests and Court of Protection cases, 39 Essex St Chambers
- Julie Doughty: trustee, The Transparency Project and senior lecturer, Cardiff Law School
- Tristan Kirk: courts correspondent, Evening Standard
- Mark Hanna: emeritus fellow, Department of Journalism Studies, Sheffield University
- Marienna Pope-Weidemann: bereaved relative campaigning for #JusticeforGaia
On 4 Mar : The observer’s dilemma: does negotiating access with power and parties compromise independence?
The panel will include :
- Dr George Julian: knowledge transfer consultant and live tweeter of inquests
- Mr Justice Hayden: vice-president of the Court of Protection
- Professor Celia Kitzinger and Gill Loomes-Quinn: Open Justice Court of Protection Project
- Lucy Reed: children barrister, St John’s Chambers and chair of The Transparency Project
- Louise Tickle: journalist, director of Scrutiny
- Angela Forster: mother of Sasha Forster and trustee of Sacha’s Project
Find out more and book tickets (free) here.
Questions: A public hearing was held after London riots, when mostly youngsters were involved in looting and burning few years ago. Is it correct, one conclusion of that hearing was, most of those youngsters were raised by single mums? If that’s correct why following panel believe this was hardly reported in UK media?
I believe, above questions are relevant for Webinar:
On 18 Feb : In pursuit of social justice – is a hearing held in public enough to hold the state to account?
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