# Open justice. Mark Sutherland Williams, 'The family court and open justice: evolution, reform, and wider implications for the HESC Chamber' (14 January 2026)

**URL:** <https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/open-justice-mark-sutherland-williams-the-family-court-and-open-justice-evolution-reform-and-wider-implications-for-the-hesc-chamber-14-january-2026/5011>\
**Category:** MHLO updates\
**Created:** [19 January 2026 09:53 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/open-justice-mark-sutherland-williams-the-family-court-and-open-justice-evolution-reform-and-wider-implications-for-the-hesc-chamber-14-january-2026/5011 "2026-01-19T09:53:00Z")\
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**Author:** ![MHLO](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/user_avatar/forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/mhlo/32/24_2.png) [@MHLO](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MHLO)\
**Post date:** [19 January 2026 09:53 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/open-justice-mark-sutherland-williams-the-family-court-and-open-justice-evolution-reform-and-wider-implications-for-the-hesc-chamber-14-january-2026/5011/1 "2026-01-19T09:53:00Z")

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— This article discusses the gradual move from secrecy towards openness. It notes in relation to the MHT that "some first-instance decisions have been published in anonymised form, promoting accountability and public understanding of how legal principles are applied" (achieving this was a hard fight, including the threat of contempt of court proceedings two days before Christmas one year).

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Full details available at: [https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Mark\_Sutherland\_Williams,\_%27The\_family\_court\_and\_open\_justice:\_evolution,\_reform,\_and\_wider\_implications\_for\_the\_HESC\_Chamber%27\_(14\_January\_2026)?id=190126-0953](https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Mark_Sutherland_Williams,_%27The_family_court_and_open_justice:_evolution,_reform,_and_wider_implications_for_the_HESC_Chamber%27_(14_January_2026)?id=190126-0953)