Family law judge calls for better background brief

A LEADING judge has called for judges to be given more information about cases involving violence.

THE chief judge of the court handling most of the nation’s family law disputes has called for judges to be given more information from state welfare authorities and family mediation services about cases involving violence.

Federal Circuit Court chief judge John Pascoe said the information was needed so judges in the family law system could make decisions that better protected children.

“I think one of the problems for the protection of children is that the family law system is completely separate to the state systems,” he said. “Where there are state welfare authorities involved, we need to get a lot more information in the family court system.”

The call for more information comes as judges in the family law system are under increasing pressure, faced with cuts to court and Legal Aid budgets, and a more complex caseload.

“Access to justice is not just about you coming to the court,” Chief Judge Pascoe said.

“Access to justice is about having your case really properly and carefully considered. That involves both time and resources and I think it’s fair to say resourcing is a matter for government, but in this court you can see the court is very stretched.”