What Have Human Rights Done for Family Justice? - Family Law journal

THE HON MR JUSTICE MOYLAN

This article is based on the keynote address to the Resolution Annual Conference 2010.

As Mr Justice Munby (as he then was) notably commented in Re L (Care: Assessment: Fair Trial) [2002] EWHC 1379 (Fam) [2002] 2 FLR 730 at para [150] since the abolition of capital punishment the powers exercised by the family courts are amongst the most drastic available to any court including as they do the power to remove a child from their parents. However all the powers exercisable and exercised daily by family courts have considerable significance because of their importance for family life and consequently for our society. The work the family courts undertake plays a central role in supporting and maintaining family life usually at a time of crisis within the family.

There is no escaping the fact that whilst the volume and complexity of family cases is increasing we are in financially straightened times. However the importance of the work you undertake in and outside our courts demands that those areas of family justice which are publicly...

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