Waite J discussed the propriety of a 13 year old attending the family proceedings court in a care application, saying: ‘I think it would be a pity if the presence of children as young as this at the hearing of High Court appeals from magistrates in family proceedings were to be allowed to develop unquestioningly into a settled practice. Most of the children concerned in care proceedings have only become involved in the first place because of some past or anticipated experience which threatens the stability and lightness of heart which could be called the national birthright of every child. I would have thought that to sit for hours, or it may be even days, listening to lawyers debating one’s future is not an experience that should in normal circumstances be wished upon any child as young as this.’
Judges:
Waite J
Citations:
[1993] 1 FLR 832
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – In Re W (A Minor) (Secure Accommodation Order: Attendance At Court) FD 13-Jul-1994
A 10 year old child may be present in court on an application relating to him in exceptional circumstances.
Held: The child’s appeal was dismissed. Natural justice did not demand the child’s presence in court, and that the rules allowed the . .
Cited – In re K (A Child) FD 16-May-2011
The court was asked whether K, a 13-year-old girl, should attend the hearing of an application by her local authority to keep her in secure accommodation for three months. She wanted to be at the hearing, but the local authority opposed her . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Children
Updated: 08 May 2022; Ref: scu.439810