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Report: Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network workshop
We are pleased to publish our report following the Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network meeting held at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, on 4 June 2025. Our report discusses the developments since the last workshop, and also ongoing challenges faced by court observers. In the morning session, court observers…
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Legal and practical considerations when naming young defendants
Note on content: Both this blog and the external links contain discussion of violent and sexual offences, self-harm, and suicide. This may be distressing to some people. If you want support, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or via their online chat. Note on reporting restrictions: It is…
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A contra mundum super-injunction is discharged after almost two years
On 1st September 2023, a contra mundum (against the world) super-injunction was granted to the government. At the time it was discharged, midday on Tuesday 15th July 2025, it had been in effect for a little over 22 months. The injunction had prohibited anybody with knowledge of it from sharing…
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A failure of open justice in a Court of Protection committal application
On Sunday (20 July 2025) Celia Kitzinger, the co-director of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project, published a blog about failures of open justice in relation to a committal application in the Court of Protection. Not only were these failings a cost to the principle of open justice but,…
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A new report on the Single Justice Procedure
Yesterday (21 July 2025) Transform Justice published a new report that examines the Single Justice Procedure. Below is the report’s preamble. Ten years ago, the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) was introduced to make the magistrates’ courts more efficient. Designed to handle minor offences swiftly and cheaply, it allows cases to…
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Speech by Mr Justice Nicklin: Open Justice – Fit for Purpose
Yesterday (Wednesday 4 June) saw the Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network members and other legal and policy specilaists gather in Oxford for a day of discussions around open justice in practice. The highlight of the day was a lecture by Mr Justice Nicklin, which you can read in full here.…
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Issues with audibility in London magistrates’ courts
Last year, Transform Justice published its report of courtwatchers’ experiences of observing magistrates’ court hearings in London. Despite the courts being open in principle, the volunteers from CourtWatch London reported multiple barriers. You can read the full report here: “Why are you here?” Open justice in London magistrates’ courts. The…
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Public lecture – 4 June 2025 – Mr Justice Nicklin – ‘Open Justice: Fit for Purpose’
Date/time: Wednesday 4 June 2025 17:00 to 19:00Location: Green Templeton College, University of OxfordSpeaker: The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin Sir Matthew Nicklin was appointed a Justice of the High Court in October 2017. He is chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Panel, which was created by the Lady Chief Justice of…
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Responses to the Judiciary’s Transparency & Open Justice Board Proposed Objectives
Back in December, the Judiciary’s Transparency and Open Justice Board asked for views on its proposed objectives (which had been promised in the earlier Terms of Reference for the Board). Members of the Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network have responded and we are sharing some of our submissions here, plus…
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MOJ open justice consultation: summary of responses
After a long wait, during which time there was a change in Government, the Ministry of Justice has published a summary of responses to its 2023 consultation on open justice. 131 people (individuals and organisations from a range of professional backgrounds, as well as individual court users) responded. You can…
Courts and Tribunals Observers’ Network 