Case No. ZE23C50115

1.On Friday 24 March 2023 I made an interim care order (“ICO”) in proceedings concerning a newborn baby, “V”, born earlier in the week. I gave an oral judgment setting out my reasons for doing so. 2.The purpose of this further, written judgment is to highlight some fundamental errors made in the preparation and presentation of this case. The principles that should have been applied are, or should be, well known. My intention in publishing this judgment is not to add anything to what is already well established, but simply to draw attention to it. 3.Unfortunately this is not the only case that has been before me recently in which a previous judgment given by the court has been completely ignored. For example it is not unusual, following a fact-finding hearing, to see the local authority repeat in its final evidence allegations which were not found proved. The present case was simply a particularly striking example of the problem. 4.I have taken the highly unusual step of anonymising not only the parties involved in these proceedings but also the advocates. All were instructed at short notice for this hearing, and none had had any prior involvement with the family. In those circumstances it would be unfair to single them out for criticism.