Written question asked by Richard Burgon (Labour) on Monday, 17 June 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 June 2019 (named day). It was answered by Paul Maynard (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 June 2019 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Courts

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the frequency with which courts are closed to the public and press without an order having been granted by the judge.

Answer: The arrangements for the admission of the public and the press to a court vary by the jurisdiction of that court, and by the nature of the application being considered. Where a court is under a duty to sit in open court, it has an inherent jurisdiction to sit in private but only if ordered by the presiding judge or magistrates. A court, to which the press or public must be admitted, will not sit in private without a judicial direction. The ability of the court to admit the public and the press may be limited by the physical constraints of the courtroom.

Secondary information