Family Law Court Judge tells Lawyers to "steer their clients away from court except where it was necessary"
In a clear message addressing family lawyers, the designated family judge for Bristol, His Honour Judge Wildblood QC, stated: ‘Do not bring your private law litigation to the family court here unless it is genuinely necessary for you to do so.’
He continues: ‘You should settle your differences (or those of your clients) away from court, except where that is not possible. If you do bring unnecessary cases to this court, you will be criticised, and sanctions may be imposed upon you.’
There is concern that unnecessary cases, including high conflict private law litigation, are being brought to the family court, which they do not necessarily require. This means in turn that members of the public who have great need for the family court service cannot access the legal service that they deserve and need. He stated that by lists being: ‘clogged up with this type of unnecessary, high conflict private law litigation, we will not be able to do so.’
You can read more in The Law Gazette about this case at this link.