On 12 July 2021, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, issued his latest 'View from the President's Chambers'. The President confirmed that, for now, the flexible use of remote, hybrid or fully attended hearings as the circumstances of each case may require will continue. Further guidance will not be issued by the President on 19 July 2021. The family justice system is currently in the process of consulting, gathering data, discussing and taking stock. If guidance is to be given, it is anticipated that it will be given on one occasion and in one document that is applicable across the board in the Civil, Family and Court of Protection jurisdictions. Any guidance that is issued will not take the form of directive, mandatory instructions determining that certain cases must, or must not, be heard remotely. The approach will continue to be to trust the judgement of the judge or magistrate in charge of each case to use their discretion appropriately when making case management decisions.
