At the time of "agreeing" to this the mother had been medicated with Morphine. She was also told it was temporary when it has given rise to a forced adoption. In the end, however, it has still given rise to a forced adoption.
Parents are often bullied into accepting S20 agreements with the threat of court proceedings. This judgment doesn't really help.
posted by John Hemming ¶ 3:11 pm 2 comments
As usual he is focussed on the question of media access. This ignores the fact that there are a number of constraints on accountability that include the constraints on the media being involved.
There is the question of professional standards. As it currently stands the Health Professions Council remain of the view that they should not investigate psychologists who are reported by parties to family court cases without the permission of the judge. That is an unacceptable constraint.
Secondly, there is no academic access to the material as of right. That means that each case operates in its own isolated sphere of reality. Specialists cannot audit the evidence given.
Thirdly, when cases some to the court of appeal there is no publication of the original judgment.
Fourthly, the cases are oppressive for individuals who cannot bring in others beyond a mackenzie friend (and often an MF is refused). I remain of the view that anonymous reporting is best. It is, however, possible to achieve this through a number of routes including parliamentary proceedings.
posted by John Hemming ¶ 8:28 am 5 comments
Sweet Georgia Brown
Take the ‘A’ train
Moon River
Stepping Out
Cheek to Cheek
Beyond the Sea
Fever
Foggy Day
Summertime
Strike up the Band
My funny valentine
‘s Wonderful
Royal Flush
How High the Moon
Somewhere over the Rainbow
All of Me
Perdido
Satin Doll
Prelude to a Kiss
posted by John Hemming ¶ 1:28 pm 1 comments
Thanks to "liarpolicians" for the youtube recording. posted by John Hemming ¶ 5:45 am 3 comments
This is actually mainly an English and Welsh problem. There is a problem in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but proportionally it is much worse in England and Wales.
That is because the jurisdiction that has problems is the English and Welsh jurisdiction.
The stupidity of the government and lack of willingness to look at individual injustices adds to the errors of procedure in the courts.
I have been advising people who have left the country since late 2007. posted by John Hemming ¶ 7:18 pm 2 comments
In the mean time, however, John Hemming and the Sisters of Jazz performed as part of the Birmingham Jazz Festival last sunday afternoon (at Hotel du Vin).
Photos copyright Jim Simpson.
More information on the festival is here Now I am back from parliament for the weekend I intend to see some of the gigs.
There will be videos of our gig at some stage in the future.
posted by John Hemming ¶ 6:06 am 1 comments
C'est la vie.
posted by John Hemming ¶ 8:48 am 2 comments
