Court of Protection should give access to hearings

In an interview with Frances Gibb in The Times on 4 January 2010 (”Court of Public Protection should be opened to media, top judge says”), senior judge Denzil Lush advocates media attendance at Court of Protection hearings, similar to the opportunity now in place in the family courts.

Judge Lush, the judge charged with running the Court at Archway, North London, believes the public would benefit from a better knowledge of the Court and its application of  the law and procedure relating to the affairs of the vulnerable, – those lacking mental capacity, with whose affairs the Court deals. He expresses his concern that media access should be subject to clear guidelines that would afford anonymity for the vulnerable, where appropriate.

The Judge’s response comes amid criticism of the Court of Protection and its administrative partner the Office of the Public Guardian, for secrecy and unnecessary bureaucracy.