Equal Treatment Bench Book - Judiciary

1 Equal Treatment Bench Book .. February 2021 edition (December 2021 revision) Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book i The Equal Treatment Bench Book is a dynamic document. In the event that you choose to print or download it, please be aware that it is subject to modification and improvement from time to time. Contents Foreword .. 1 Foreword (to the February 2018 edition) .. 2 Acknowledgments .. 3 Preface .. 4 Introduction: Equal Treatment and the Judge .. 5 Introduction .. 5 Good communication .. 6 Demonstrating fairness .. 7 Diversity .. 8 A note on terminology .. 9 England and Wales: A Single Legal Jurisdiction .. 10 The Welsh Language: Official Status .. 10 Chapter 1 Litigants in Person and Lay Representatives .. 11 Contents .. 11 Overview .. 12 Litigants in person ( LIPs ) .. 15 The courts duty to LIPs .. 16 Difficulties faced by LIPs .. 17 Ways to help .. 17 Holding the confidence of both sides.

2 17 Sources of outside help and information for LIPs .. 18 Particular areas of difficulty .. 18 Language .. 18 Disability .. 19 Social and educational background .. 19 Common procedural misunderstandings in case preparation .. 19 Statements of case / Pleadings and limitation periods .. 19 Case management: understanding directions and court orders .. 20 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book ii Disclosure of documents .. 23 Understanding the importance of documentary evidence .. 24 Trial bundles .. 24 Witnesses and witness statements .. 25 Adjournments .. 26 Case law .. 26 Compromise .. 27 Difficulties at the hearing and how to help .. 28 Introductory explanations by the judge .. 28 The real issues of the case .. 29 Advocacy .. 29 Giving judgment .. 31 Criminal cases .. 31 Useful guidance materials .. 31 Guilty pleas .. 31 The value of representation .. 32 Assistance during the trial .. 32 Jargon and legalese.

3 35 Assistance and representation from lay representatives .. 36 Overview .. 36 Lay representatives and tribunals .. 36 McKenzie Friends .. 37 Support Through Court & Citizens Advice .. 39 Rights of audience .. 40 Small Claims .. 42 Housing Authority Officers and Employees of Arm s Length Management Organisations [ALMOs] .. 42 Companies .. 42 Official Receivers .. 42 Official Solicitor .. 42 Representing adults who lack capacity .. 43 References and resources .. 43 References .. 43 Cases .. 44 Other .. 44 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book iii Chapter 2 Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults .. 45 Contents .. 45 Overview .. 46 Who is covered by this chapter? .. 49 The rights of young and vulnerable witnesses to effective participation .. 50 Vulnerability of young and adult offenders .. 51 The duty to safeguard children and vulnerable adults .. 53 Safeguarding generally .. 53 Safeguarding in courts and tribunals.

4 53 The Judiciary s role in safeguarding .. 54 Competence .. 55 The need to adapt procedures .. 56 Expedited time-scales and active case management .. 58 Rules and materials .. 58 Timetabling .. 59 Avoiding adjournments .. 61 Scheduling a clean start to witness testimony .. 61 Special measures, participation directions and related 63 Special measures .. 63 Disapplying special measures .. 64 Participation directions in the family court .. 64 Avoiding confrontation .. 65 Screens .. 66 Evidence by live link .. 66 Refreshing witness memory .. 68 Intermediaries: facilitating complete, coherent and accurate communication .. 69 The function .. 69 Should an intermediary be appointed? .. 71 If the application is contested .. 71 If the intermediary is not available on the day .. 72 Intermediaries in family cases .. 72 Non-registered intermediaries for vulnerable defendants in criminal proceedings .. 73 Sources of other information about intermediaries.

5 75 Communication aids recommended by intermediaries .. 75 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book iv Ground rules hearings .. 75 Function of ground rules hearings .. 75 Topics for discussion at a ground rules hearing .. 76 Trial practice note of boundaries .. 77 Sources of other information on ground rules hearings .. 77 Adjustments to cross-examination .. 78 The court s duty to control questioning .. 78 Limiting the length of cross-examination .. 79 Questioning techniques to avoid .. 79 Questions about third party material .. 81 Reporting restrictions .. 82 Communicating at trial .. 83 Before the vulnerable person gives evidence .. 83 Simplified instructions from the judge or magistrate .. 83 While the vulnerable person is giving evidence .. 84 Information for the jury .. 85 The judgment .. 86 Further examples of adapting procedures(disability) .. 86 The importance of routine feedback .. 87 References and resources.

6 87 References .. 87 The Advocate s Gateway .. 89 Cases .. 90 Conventions .. 91 Chapter 3 Physical Disability .. 92 Contents .. 92 Overview .. 93 What is physical disability? .. 96 Why this chapter matters .. 96 Who do these considerations apply to? .. 97 Difficulties the court process may pose for disabled people .. 98 Identifying an individual s needs .. 98 Necessary advance planning .. 98 Consultation, case management and ground rules hearings .. 99 Adjustments for case preparation .. 100 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book v Adjustments for the hearing .. 100 General examples of 100 Breaks and shorter hours .. 102 Communication .. 102 Representation .. 103 What if the individual does not raise the subject of disability? .. 103 Criminal court procedure statutory measures .. 103 Jury service and disability .. 104 Acceptable terminology .. 106 How to discuss someone s possible needs in court .. 106 The social model v the medical model of 106 Use of terms.

7 107 The legal definition of disability .. 108 References and resources .. 108 References .. 108 Cases .. 109 Practice Directions, Guidance Notes and Conventions .. 109 Chapter 4 Mental Disability .. 110 Contents .. 110 Overview .. 111 What is mental disability? .. 115 Prevalence of mental health difficulties .. 115 Why this chapter matters .. 117 Difficulties the court process may pose for mentally disabled people .. 118 Identifying an individual s needs .. 119 Necessary advance planning .. 119 Consultation, case management and ground rules hearings .. 120 Adjustments for case preparation .. 121 Adjustments for the hearing .. 122 General examples of 122 Breaks and shorter hours .. 124 Communication .. 124 Adjustments to cross-examination .. 125 Memory .. 126 Representation .. 127 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book vi What if the individual does not raise the subject of disability? .. 127 Criminal court procedure statutory measures.

8 128 Mental disability and remote hearings .. 129 Mental health: defendants and the criminal justice system .. 131 Prisoners and mental health .. 131 Ways to find out whether the defendant has a mental health condition .. 132 Mental Health Liaison and Diversion Services .. 132 Bail and remand decisions .. 133 The trial .. 133 Sentencing .. 134 Veterans .. 136 Mental 136 The cause of veterans mental health difficulties .. 137 Veterans and the criminal justice system .. 138 The Armed Forces Covenant .. 139 Acceptable terminology .. 139 How to discuss someone s possible needs in court .. 139 The social model v the medical model of 140 Use of terms .. 140 The legal definition of disability .. 141 The Equality Act 2010 .. 141 References and resources .. 141 References .. 141 Cases .. 143 Conventions .. 144 Chapter 5 Capacity (Mental) .. 145 Contents .. 145 Overview .. 146 Criteria for assessing capacity.

9 147 The approach of different professions .. 147 Assessment of capacity .. 148 Presumption of capacity .. 148 Determining capacity .. 148 Evidence .. 149 Implications .. 149 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book vii Guidance .. 149 The Mental Capacity Act 2005 .. 150 Background and overview .. 150 Fundamental principles .. 151 The concept of incapacity under the MCA .. 151 The concept of best interests under the MCA .. 151 Decision-making .. 152 The public bodies created by the MCA .. 152 The jurisdiction under the MCA .. 153 Civil and family proceedings procedure .. 154 The procedural rules .. 154 Protected party .. 154 Assessment of capacity .. 154 A protected party s representative (litigation friend) .. 156 Procedural consequences of being a protected party .. 158 Injunctions .. 158 Litigation friends in tribunals .. 158 Technical terms .. 159 References and resources .. 160 References .. 160 Cases.

10 160 Other .. 161 Chapter 6 Gender .. 162 Contents .. 162 Overview .. 163 Gender disadvantage and stereotyping .. 167 Employment .. 167 Employment rates .. 167 The Gender Pay Gap .. 167 BAME women in employment .. 168 Caring .. 168 Carers of children .. 168 Caring for elderly and disabled dependants .. 169 Accommodating different sitting hours and 169 Pregnancy, maternity leave and breastfeeding .. 170 Contents Equal Treatment Bench Book viii Discrimination at work .. 170 Adjustments for pregnant or breastfeeding women in courts and tribunals .. 170 Menopause .. 171 Sexual harassment .. 172 Domestic violence and abuse .. 173 Domestic violence and abuse .. 173 Coercive Control .. 175 Female Genital Mutilation .. 177 Sexual offences .. 178 Who is affected? .. 178 Ensuring safe participation in the judicial process .. 182 Social media .. 184 Women as offenders .. 187 Who is in prison? .. 187 The impact of imprisonment on women.