CourtWatch

Shaping the future of justice in England & Wales ⚖️
Observing magistrates courts, gathering data, and taking action.
⭐ Join us! ⬇️

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

We asked courtwatchers to tell us the best thing about courtwatching. Swipe to see what some of them had to say ➡️

This could be you! 👀 Training sessions for our next round of CourtWatch (England & Wales) are starting later in August.

🔗Sign up today:
https://t.co/ycW8sE9LgP

[Magistrates' Blog @MagistratesBlog]

If you want to get involved, check out their website.

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

🕔There’s no specified time commitment - just pop into your local court when you have time spare. All data is helpful!

✍️We’re starting online training sessions soon. Make sure to sign up to be sent all the relevant details: https://t.co/ycW8sE9LgP

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

📢 CourtWatch is back! Are you signed up yet?

👀We’re looking for volunteers from all over England & Wales to go into their local magistrates’ courts, observe, reflect and report back to us.

📝How are defendants being treated? Are the courts accessible? What’s causing delays?

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

✅No prior experience is needed, and you’ll get training and support along the way.

✅The data we gather gives us a better picture of what’s going on inside magistrates’ courts - and what needs to change.

👀Read more about the project here: https://t.co/qANYNhQfoY

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

📢 CourtWatch is back - and this time we’re taking on the whole of England and Wales!

We’re looking for volunteers to observe hearings in their local magistrates’ courts and report back to us.

🔗Sign up now to get info on online training sessions! https://t.co/ycW8sE9LgP

[Transform Justice @TransformJust1]

💡 New Insight 💡

Why is open justice so important? Fionnuala Ratcliffe explores this complex topic in our latest insight, drawing on experiences of observers in our @CourtWatchLDN programme ⬇️

https://t.co/ciiFRIpwCV

[Transform Justice @TransformJust1]

Defendants won't always understand the complex legal language used by court professionals.

Here Prof. Jessica Jacobson touches on the barriers to making sure defendants can understand and effectively participate in their own hearings.

🎧 Listen now: https://t.co/UY1Po2y431

[The Justice Gap @justicegap.bsky.social @JusticeGap]

Defendants struggling to hear let alone understand court proceedings: new report from @TransformJust1's CourtWatch project revealing ‘rude, dismissive and careless’ behaviour from judges and court staff. Shocking that so many defs can't follow proceedings https://t.co/BSRvIIxHyE

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

@24LadyLynda Very sorry to hear this 🙏 Perspectives of people who have directly experienced the system are of course extremely valuable. Hope you're ok!

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

Join us at this CourtWatch London webinar!
☑️ Hear about findings from both our newly-released reports
☑️Hear from courtwatchers on their experiences and their takes on defendant treatment and efficiency in London magistrates’ courts.
🎟️ Register now - https://t.co/Mjk3r6wCK4

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

⚠️Last chance to sign up for our webinar tomorrow!

We'll be diving into what our courtwatchers observed in London magistrates' courts - were the courts efficient? Were court staff kind? Could defendants participate effectively?

🔗Join us! Register now: https://t.co/5j7wZvvTcb

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

Join us at this CourtWatch London webinar!
☑️ Hear about findings from both our newly-released reports
☑️Hear from courtwatchers on their experiences and their takes on defendant treatment and efficiency in London magistrates’ courts.
🎟️ Register now - https://t.co/Mjk3r6wCK4

[Transform Justice @TransformJust1]

💡New Insight 💡
Judging kindness: are magistrates' courts getting it right?

🔗Hear more about @CourtWatchLDN findings - sign up for our webinar on Tuesday 14th April 1pm-2pm: https://t.co/3JnsyMfExz

https://t.co/sFBs2YrqSO

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

CourtWatch London in the Law Society Gazette ⚖️

📖Read our brand new report on treatment of defendants in London magistrates' courts here: https://t.co/GNC5zyNa9n

https://t.co/coWCFV7w52

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

Thanks to everyone who came to our event on Tuesday to mark the launch of our new report.

A special thank you to our panel @Kirsty_Brimelow, Rosemin Najmudin & Barbara Bond.

🔗Read the report on treatment of defendants in London magistrates' courts here: https://t.co/GNC5zyNa9n

[Transform Justice @TransformJust1]

A huge thanks to @legalhackette at @thetimes for this brilliant article drawing on our new @CourtWatchLDN report.

🔗Read the report here: https://t.co/z1TFHnA6nk

[The CBA @TheCriminalBar]

Concern over ‘rough justice’ in magistrates’ courts

Critics warn of increase in delays and heightened miscarriage of justice risk

⁦@thetimes⁩ https://t.co/EWnvl3KgWN

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

⚠️ New CourtWatch London report!

How are defendants treated in the magistrates' courts? Are they able to effectively participate in their hearings? Find out what our courtwatchers observed in our brand new report ⬇️

🔗https://t.co/cIQJDQz26X

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

Is increasing remote hearings really the answer to increasing efficiency in the courts? In our latest report, we argue not... 🔗 https://t.co/RgqJGPPFon

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

A few courtwatcher observations on videolinks:

👁️‍🗨️"The video link was so bad, maybe the trial really should have been stopped."

👁️‍🗨️"Video link not brilliant, defendant just managed to hear his solicitor."

[Penelope Gibbs @PenelopeGibbs2]

Leveson recommends increase in the No of defendants who appear on video for their 1st magistrates' court appearance. This would be a disastrous move for defendants' effective participation, for lawyer's ability to communicate with their clients & for Nos on short prison sentences

[CourtWatch @CourtWatchEW]

👁️‍🗨️“An hour was lost… The first prosecution witness was due to give evidence by videolink and this wasn’t working in the court room we were in.”

👁️‍🗨️"Defendant needed to speak to lawyer (also on video) court had to be cleared as not able to mute this conversation. "