Review: Child care proceedings system in England and Wales

Sir Mark Potter spoke about how he was currently working to establish what he called the “Framework for a Family Court,” which was approved by the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor. That framework is directed to the following areas:

1. The practical arrangements for judicial management of a unified family court - comprising judges of the High Court, Circuit and District Judges,and magistrates of the family proceedings court.
2. Allocation criteria for the categorisation and distribution of family proceedings as between those groups of judges. A draft has already been circulated.
3. A public law case management practice direction applicable to all levels of court i.e. the Public Law Outline.
4. Gatekeeper and listing guidance covering the issue and allocation of proceedings, and the administrative support necessary in that respect which will be produced as the last element in place once the initiatives mentioned by Bridget Prentice are complete.
5. A private law case management practice direction (i.e. the revised Private Law Programme) yet to be completed and incorporated into the final element-
6. New Family Procedure Rules (currently being drafted by the Family Procedure Rule Committee) along the lines of the CPR and accommodating the new arrangements due to be completed in 2008