In a letter from the Vice-President published today (11 May 2020), he has emphasised that “[s]triving to achieve a transparent process in the Court of Protection, whilst sitting “remotely”, remains an important objective.” To that end, he has made:
a small practical suggestion to improve access to the business of the Court when press or other members of the public join a virtual hearing. Whilst the judge and the lawyers will have read the papers and be able to move quickly to engage with the identified issues, those who are present as observers will often find it initially difficult fully to grasp what the case is about. I think it would be helpful, for a variety of reasons, if the applicant’s advocate began the case with a short opening helping to place the identified issues in some context.