Family Justice Council 10th Annual Debate: settlement conferences

The Family Justice Council held its 10th Annual Debate and panel discussion in London between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday, 1 December 2016.

The topic for this year’s debate was Settlement Conferences. The motion read:

‘Settlement  Conferences: Are they Article 6 compliant?’

The event was chaired by Mrs Justice Pauffley, stepping in for Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division. The speakers were:

• Sir David Norgrove – Deputy Chair of the Family Justice Board
• Her Honour Judge Margaret De Haas QC – Designated Family Judge for Cheshire and Merseyside
• Elizabeth Isaacs QC – Family Law Silk, Deputy High Court Judge and member of the Family Justice Council
• Martha Cover – Head of Chambers, Coram Chambers and Co-Chair, Executive Committee for the Association of Lawyers for Children

The aim was to have a cross-section of all the key professions working in the family justice system attend the debate.

The debate asked 'Are Settlement Conferences a good thing: Is it a worthwhile initiative as a pilot?' The final vote was resoundingly against settlement conferences for public law and equally in favour for private law.

The Association of Lawyers for Children did an excellent job of live tweeting the proceedings - you can read the tweets on their account @Tweets_ALC.

Passionate arguments from both sides at FJC 10th Annual Debate on Settlement Conferences.

— NYASservices (@NYASServices) December 1, 2016

FJC debate overwhelmingly opposes Early Settlement Confs in public law

— Elizabeth Isaacs QC (@IsaacsLiz) December 1, 2016

We are here at the FJC debate on #settlementconferences.

— ALC (@Tweets_ALC) December 1, 2016