New court guide aims to lift “curtain” on justice system
updated on 05 January 2024
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The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a new government guide, which has been designed to lift “the curtain” on the justice system and boost transparency. The guide explains how members of the public can access court to observe the trials, tribunals and hearings that take place every year.
The justice system has many “complex processes that may make it challenging to understand what’s happening and why”. As such, the guide is split into sections, including ‘before a hearing’ and ‘observing a hearing’ to, among other things:
- set out the difference between criminal, civil, family and tribunal court hearings, and the types of cases these areas of law feature;
- explain how the public can find and observe hearings (in person and remotely), including the areas of courtrooms that are open to the public and what they can expect once inside;
- explain court security processes and how to connect to court WiFi;
- set out the rules around photography and filming, as well as the use of phones, laptops and social media; and
- outline the risks of being in contempt of court or breaching reporting restrictions.
The guide, produced by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), is available on the gov.uk website and printed copies will be available in courts and via Citizens Advice. It’ll also help HMCTS staff prepare to support members of the public to access hearings and those attending for the first time.
