INTRODUCTION Contributed by: Alex Carruthers, Oliver Heeks and Sian Brooks, Hughes Fowler Carruthers
Transparency in courts Finally, a hot topic of debate in several coun - tries at the moment is transparency regarding the family court process. There is a fierce debate in many countries about whether it is in society’s best interests for there to be open justice so that a light can be shone on the judicial process to cleanse it of any imperfections or whether the rights of the individual to have their personal affairs kept secret and their rights to a private family life must be protected. This is an issue that occurs in many areas of the law but is most acute in family law, given that the issues debated are extremely personal. In some jurisdictions (eg, California), it is acknowledged that the proceed - ings will take place within the glare of publicity, whereas in a number of others – for example, in quite a number of EU countries – there are strict rules about publicity.
This, as with various issues addressed in this guide, reflects the evolution of society in each country and provides a snapshot of the present laws and norms of that society.
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