News Essentials: 7th March 2020

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week:

CH v GLS [2019] EWHC 3842 (Fam) (28 November 2019)
Application by father for summary return of 4 year old daughter to Spain. Mother made very serious allegations of domestic violence against the father. Article 13(b) defence made out. Full report: Bailii.

A-M (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 283 (28 February 2020)
Further judgment in wardship proceedings relating to children of  ruler of Dubai, concerning father's appeal against publication order. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii. See also here for fact-finding judgment, and here for judgment concerning assurances and waivers given by the father. News stories and reporting restriction judgment below.

Dubai ruler organised kidnapping of his children, UK court rules
Ruling backs Princess Haya’s claim that husband Sheikh Mohammed intimidated her. Full story: The Guardian.

Re: AI M handed down by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division
Judgment in wardship proceedings concerning children of  ruler of Dubai, who was seeking orders for his children to be returned to Dubai, dealing with removal of reporting restrictions. Full report: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Y and X (Children) [2020] EWFC 15 (06 February 2020)
Judgment in care proceedings concerning two children, including observations about the social work practice in the case. Full report: Bailii.

E, Re (Judgment And Sentence) [2019] EWFC 83 (17 December 2019)
Application for committal of father for breach of prohibited steps order and child arrangements order, by removing child from the area and taking him to Wales. Full report: Bailii.

Z (A Child : committal proceeding) [2020] EWFC B5 (24 January 2020)
Application for committal of father in child arrangements proceedings, for manipulating results of a drug test that he was ordered to file by the court. Full report: Bailii.

Transgender man appeals decision not to be named father
Freddy McConnell’s lawyer says judge was wrong in determining ‘mother’ not to be gendered term. Full story: The Guardian.

JD & Anor v VB & Ors [2020] EWFC 16 (04 March 2020)
Re-hearing on the question whether to vary an order for direct contact between 8 year old girl and mother and her 18 year old half-sister, following nearly 7 years of almost continuous litigation concerning the girl. Full report: Bailii.

'Astonishing breakthrough': Munby hails access to family justice data
A national support service representing children in family court cases has opened up its data to researchers as part of wider efforts to understand how well the family justice system is working. Full story: Law Society Gazette.

Domestic abuse: Lie-detector tests planned for offenders
Domestic violence offenders in England and Wales could face compulsory lie-detector tests when released from prison under proposed new laws. Full story: BBC News.

Financial Remedies Courts - e-bundles protocol
Message from the Honourable Mr Justice Mostyn. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Domestic abuse: Ministers urged to strengthen revived law to protect children
Proposed domestic abuse laws must be strengthened to give more protection to children, campaigners say. Full story: BBC News.

Enhanced Domestic Abuse Bill introduced to Parliament
Ground-breaking Domestic Abuse Bill to receive First Reading in the House of Commons. Full story: Home Office, Ministry of Justice.

Domestic abuse policy framework
An HMPPS Policy Framework for working with domestic abuse that takes account of a range of domestic abuse contexts and the need to protect victims and children. Full story: Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

Dubai ruler loses appeal over release of two UK court judgments
The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has failed in his latest attempt to prevent publication of two family court judgments involving his children with his ex-wife Princess Haya of Jordan. Full story: The Guardian.

A (A Child), Re (Inherent Jurisdiction: Parens Patriae, FMPO & Passport Orders) [2020] EWHC 451 (Fam) (27 February 2020)
Applications by mother for child to be made a ward of court to to secure her return to the UK, and for a Forced Marriage Protection Order. Full report: Bailii.