Court of Appeal judges may rule on divorce privacy

The discrepancy during divorce cases in how much of the information disclosed to the court is revealed to the public may be addressed by Court of Appeal judges. Couples in Bedfordshire who are going through a divorce may wish to keep the details of their situation private, but judges in the High Court have differing opinions on how much of the information revealed in a hearing should be made available to the public and what should be kept private.

One judge said that he was of the opinion that divorce disputes were private matters and, when scrutinising the details of his case, he did so in a private hearing. The president of the Family Division of the High Court was of a different opinion, saying that he wanted to see a greater openness in family court and that he felt that the people had a right to hear about what was happening within their law courts.

In view of these conflicting sentiments, another judge indicated that these differences of opinion should be addressed and the issue given to the judges in the Court of Appeal to evaluate and to make a ruling. He said that at some point someone would appeal the way the High Court had handled the dissemination of information to the public around a case and it was time the matter was finally settled.

Journalists are permitted to attend hearings that are held in the Family Division of the High Court, but they are typically closed to the public and the judge can decide whether or not the attending reporters may broadcast information. A person concerned with the publicity of court case may wish to consult with a solicitor with experience in handling family law disputes who may provide advice on the procedural issues of reporting restrictions when there is a need for privacy.

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