Sir, From April 2009 family courts are going to be opened up to scrutiny (report, Dec 17). Most family lawyers must have realised for a long time that media interest reflected a public wish to know what was going on in the courts. If Jack Straw’s reforms are to work then a number of things will have to change.

Judges and the media will need to find some common themes about the public interest. The media will need to understand more about what the courts do and the importance of reporting both sides of cases.

Judges will need to understand that the media’s interest in a case may relate to aspects of a case that they think are not important. Judges will have to get used to being criticised.

My colleagues and I are concerned about the interests of litigants. We hope that everyone will remember that family cases discuss the most intimate details of people’s lives. The past system has sometimes made it easier for ordinary people to bare their souls and to feel that they can have a sympathic hearing in private. For these people the knowledge that evidence about their private life is to be discussed in front of the media will not always be welcome. The wish of parties to be treated properly and with respect must not be forgotten.

Roger McCarthy, QC
London WC1

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