CourtWatch London
@courtwatchldn.bsky.social
Shaping the future of justice ⚖
Our volunteers observe London's magistrates courts, gather data, and take action to make our courts fairer and more open.
Our volunteers observe London's magistrates courts, gather data, and take action to make our courts fairer and more open.
Courtwatchers have been questioning whether some cases belong in court at all.
At @transformjustice.bsky.social, we’ve long argued that many offences could be resolved better outside of court.
See what some courtwatchers had to say below ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
At @transformjustice.bsky.social, we’ve long argued that many offences could be resolved better outside of court.
See what some courtwatchers had to say below ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
November 7, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Courtwatchers have been questioning whether some cases belong in court at all.
At @transformjustice.bsky.social, we’ve long argued that many offences could be resolved better outside of court.
See what some courtwatchers had to say below ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
At @transformjustice.bsky.social, we’ve long argued that many offences could be resolved better outside of court.
See what some courtwatchers had to say below ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
Some courtwatchers have reported magistrates and court staff failing to acknowledge or include defendants during their own hearings.
Read more from our courtwatchers below ⬇️
🧵[1/7]
Read more from our courtwatchers below ⬇️
🧵[1/7]
October 31, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Some courtwatchers have reported magistrates and court staff failing to acknowledge or include defendants during their own hearings.
Read more from our courtwatchers below ⬇️
🧵[1/7]
Read more from our courtwatchers below ⬇️
🧵[1/7]
Some courtwatchers have raised concerns about hearings that reflect a criminalisation of poverty.
With food and essentials more expensive than ever, it’s unfortunately unsurprising that many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendants are accused of stealing food.
🧵[1/6]
With food and essentials more expensive than ever, it’s unfortunately unsurprising that many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendants are accused of stealing food.
🧵[1/6]
October 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Some courtwatchers have raised concerns about hearings that reflect a criminalisation of poverty.
With food and essentials more expensive than ever, it’s unfortunately unsurprising that many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendants are accused of stealing food.
🧵[1/6]
With food and essentials more expensive than ever, it’s unfortunately unsurprising that many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendants are accused of stealing food.
🧵[1/6]
Many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendant is experiencing homelessness. For the most part, magistrates have shown understanding and compassion: trying to take people’s circumstances into account and signposting to support services.
🧵[1/8]
🧵[1/8]
October 17, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Many courtwatchers have witnessed hearings where the defendant is experiencing homelessness. For the most part, magistrates have shown understanding and compassion: trying to take people’s circumstances into account and signposting to support services.
🧵[1/8]
🧵[1/8]
⚠️One courtwatcher observed a deeply disturbing case: a defendant so unwell and heavily medicated he was effectively unable to participate in his own trial - and yet it went ahead with no accommodations at all.
🧵[1/8]
🧵[1/8]
October 3, 2025 at 10:18 AM
⚠️One courtwatcher observed a deeply disturbing case: a defendant so unwell and heavily medicated he was effectively unable to participate in his own trial - and yet it went ahead with no accommodations at all.
🧵[1/8]
🧵[1/8]
⚠️ Inefficiency around pre-sentence reports are a big cause of delays in the mags’ courts.
Almost 1 in 6 of the delays or adjournments observed by courtwatchers throughout the project were so that pre-sentence reports could be written.
🧵[1/6]
Almost 1 in 6 of the delays or adjournments observed by courtwatchers throughout the project were so that pre-sentence reports could be written.
🧵[1/6]
September 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
⚠️ Inefficiency around pre-sentence reports are a big cause of delays in the mags’ courts.
Almost 1 in 6 of the delays or adjournments observed by courtwatchers throughout the project were so that pre-sentence reports could be written.
🧵[1/6]
Almost 1 in 6 of the delays or adjournments observed by courtwatchers throughout the project were so that pre-sentence reports could be written.
🧵[1/6]
👁️🗨️“CourtWatch has given me a lot to think about.”
One month on from the end of the project, our volunteer courtwatchers have been reflecting about what they learned from their courtwatching experiences; the good and the bad, and what they might do differently going forward.
#CourtWatchLondon
One month on from the end of the project, our volunteer courtwatchers have been reflecting about what they learned from their courtwatching experiences; the good and the bad, and what they might do differently going forward.
#CourtWatchLondon
September 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
👁️🗨️“CourtWatch has given me a lot to think about.”
One month on from the end of the project, our volunteer courtwatchers have been reflecting about what they learned from their courtwatching experiences; the good and the bad, and what they might do differently going forward.
#CourtWatchLondon
One month on from the end of the project, our volunteer courtwatchers have been reflecting about what they learned from their courtwatching experiences; the good and the bad, and what they might do differently going forward.
#CourtWatchLondon
⚠️Faulty court technology is preventing the public from seeing crucial evidence.
Across dozens of hearings, courtwatchers saw faulty video screen links to be a source of delays and found they were unable to see the evidence originally intended to be viewed by the entire courtroom.
🧵[1/6]
Across dozens of hearings, courtwatchers saw faulty video screen links to be a source of delays and found they were unable to see the evidence originally intended to be viewed by the entire courtroom.
🧵[1/6]
August 29, 2025 at 9:28 AM
⚠️Faulty court technology is preventing the public from seeing crucial evidence.
Across dozens of hearings, courtwatchers saw faulty video screen links to be a source of delays and found they were unable to see the evidence originally intended to be viewed by the entire courtroom.
🧵[1/6]
Across dozens of hearings, courtwatchers saw faulty video screen links to be a source of delays and found they were unable to see the evidence originally intended to be viewed by the entire courtroom.
🧵[1/6]
Where a defendant should sit during a hearing is a contentious topic.
The controversial dock has long been the default option for defendants in England and Wales. But, as then Hackney Central MP Baron Clinton Davis said in the House of Commons all the way back in 1972: ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
The controversial dock has long been the default option for defendants in England and Wales. But, as then Hackney Central MP Baron Clinton Davis said in the House of Commons all the way back in 1972: ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
August 22, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Where a defendant should sit during a hearing is a contentious topic.
The controversial dock has long been the default option for defendants in England and Wales. But, as then Hackney Central MP Baron Clinton Davis said in the House of Commons all the way back in 1972: ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
The controversial dock has long been the default option for defendants in England and Wales. But, as then Hackney Central MP Baron Clinton Davis said in the House of Commons all the way back in 1972: ⬇️
🧵[1/8]
To what degree should someone’s mental health be taken into consideration by the law? One courtwatcher observed a case where a man was charged with failure to stop and remain at a road traffic accident & failure to supply a breath sample, as he drove to the Thames intending to end his life. 🧵[1/8]
August 15, 2025 at 7:00 AM
To what degree should someone’s mental health be taken into consideration by the law? One courtwatcher observed a case where a man was charged with failure to stop and remain at a road traffic accident & failure to supply a breath sample, as he drove to the Thames intending to end his life. 🧵[1/8]
For justice to be truly open, our courthouses must be accessible.
We ask each courtwatcher to fill out our open justice form once per court visit (not per hearing) which includes a question on accessibility.
As you can see, the results are largely positive! 🧵[1/4]
We ask each courtwatcher to fill out our open justice form once per court visit (not per hearing) which includes a question on accessibility.
As you can see, the results are largely positive! 🧵[1/4]
August 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
For justice to be truly open, our courthouses must be accessible.
We ask each courtwatcher to fill out our open justice form once per court visit (not per hearing) which includes a question on accessibility.
As you can see, the results are largely positive! 🧵[1/4]
We ask each courtwatcher to fill out our open justice form once per court visit (not per hearing) which includes a question on accessibility.
As you can see, the results are largely positive! 🧵[1/4]
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Annalena’s full Insight on our website: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
With almost 50 hearing observations under her belt already, Annalena is a certified courtwatching superstar and is never short of interesting cases to discuss.
With almost 50 hearing observations under her belt already, Annalena is a certified courtwatching superstar and is never short of interesting cases to discuss.
June 27, 2025 at 8:50 AM
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Annalena’s full Insight on our website: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
With almost 50 hearing observations under her belt already, Annalena is a certified courtwatching superstar and is never short of interesting cases to discuss.
With almost 50 hearing observations under her belt already, Annalena is a certified courtwatching superstar and is never short of interesting cases to discuss.
One of our courtwatchers recently observed a shocking case of mistaken identity - whereby someone arrested for drunk driving didn’t give their own name, but instead the name and birthday of someone else. The drunk driver was sentenced in court still using the other person’s identity. 🧵[1/12]
June 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
One of our courtwatchers recently observed a shocking case of mistaken identity - whereby someone arrested for drunk driving didn’t give their own name, but instead the name and birthday of someone else. The drunk driver was sentenced in court still using the other person’s identity. 🧵[1/12]
Many of our courtwatchers have observed serious issues with courtroom video links - from poor quality to complete technical failures. These issues aren’t just frustrating - they risk undermining the defendant’s ability to participate in their own hearing.
Here are just a few of the comments: [1/5]
Here are just a few of the comments: [1/5]
June 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Many of our courtwatchers have observed serious issues with courtroom video links - from poor quality to complete technical failures. These issues aren’t just frustrating - they risk undermining the defendant’s ability to participate in their own hearing.
Here are just a few of the comments: [1/5]
Here are just a few of the comments: [1/5]
Some of our courtwatchers have raised concerns about the tradition of lawyers referring to each other as ‘my friend’.
👁️🗨️“I wonder if instead of the term ‘my friend’ it would be clearer if terms like ‘the defence lawyer’ were used when speaking to witnesses and defendants.” [1/5]
👁️🗨️“I wonder if instead of the term ‘my friend’ it would be clearer if terms like ‘the defence lawyer’ were used when speaking to witnesses and defendants.” [1/5]
June 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Some of our courtwatchers have raised concerns about the tradition of lawyers referring to each other as ‘my friend’.
👁️🗨️“I wonder if instead of the term ‘my friend’ it would be clearer if terms like ‘the defence lawyer’ were used when speaking to witnesses and defendants.” [1/5]
👁️🗨️“I wonder if instead of the term ‘my friend’ it would be clearer if terms like ‘the defence lawyer’ were used when speaking to witnesses and defendants.” [1/5]
Reposted by CourtWatch London
Attending court - should your participation trump etiquette?
Not only do our courtwatchers send us detailed reports of their observations, they also have excellent ideas for how to make our courts better.
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
June 3, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Attending court - should your participation trump etiquette?
Reposted by CourtWatch London
Most courts (Crown and Magistrates) have awful audio. The older and high security ones are the worst. Often the defendants struggle to hear in the dock. If you complain it'll generally get better for 10 minutes before they slip back into bad habits.
June 3, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Most courts (Crown and Magistrates) have awful audio. The older and high security ones are the worst. Often the defendants struggle to hear in the dock. If you complain it'll generally get better for 10 minutes before they slip back into bad habits.
Not only do our courtwatchers send us detailed reports of their observations, they also have excellent ideas for how to make our courts better.
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
June 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Not only do our courtwatchers send us detailed reports of their observations, they also have excellent ideas for how to make our courts better.
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
Hear from courtwatcher Carolina on how we could improve audibility in magistrates' courts below ⬇️
Should participation trump etiquette? We think so...
Reposted by CourtWatch London
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Michael’s full Insight: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
May 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Michael’s full Insight: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Michael’s full Insight: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
May 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
💡VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT💡Read Michael’s full Insight: www.transformjustice.org.uk/news-insight...
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
Next week is Volunteers’ Week & it’s time to celebrate one of our most dedicated volunteers!
Michael has observed ~40 hearings already; consistently providing us with detailed & thoughtful reflections.
Reposted by CourtWatch London
This bit is particularly alarming to me. It's not 100% clear what 'a very different outcome' suggests, but courts *should* be sentencing adults for offences committed as children similarly to how they would have been sentenced when the offence was committed.
yjlc.uk/resources/le...
yjlc.uk/resources/le...
May 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
This bit is particularly alarming to me. It's not 100% clear what 'a very different outcome' suggests, but courts *should* be sentencing adults for offences committed as children similarly to how they would have been sentenced when the offence was committed.
yjlc.uk/resources/le...
yjlc.uk/resources/le...
Reposted by CourtWatch London
Adult processes for child offences....not good
🐌⏰When justice moves so slowly that a child becomes an adult before their case is heard…
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
May 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Adult processes for child offences....not good
🐌⏰When justice moves so slowly that a child becomes an adult before their case is heard…
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
May 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
🐌⏰When justice moves so slowly that a child becomes an adult before their case is heard…
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
Court delays are pushing young people, originally charged as children, into adult courtrooms. And our keen-eyed courtwatchers are picking up on this disturbing trend… [1/9]
♀️ Sexism in subtle forms? ♂️ Some courtwatchers are raising concerns about how female magistrates (and other court staff) are treated by their male colleagues.
One courtwatcher noted that the female magistrate was being physically excluded from the discussions... [1/5]
One courtwatcher noted that the female magistrate was being physically excluded from the discussions... [1/5]
May 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
♀️ Sexism in subtle forms? ♂️ Some courtwatchers are raising concerns about how female magistrates (and other court staff) are treated by their male colleagues.
One courtwatcher noted that the female magistrate was being physically excluded from the discussions... [1/5]
One courtwatcher noted that the female magistrate was being physically excluded from the discussions... [1/5]
Reposted by CourtWatch London
💡Is our courts system fit for purpose when it comes to open justice?
Join us at the University of Oxford for what is sure to be an insightful lecture from Mr Justice Nicklin, chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Panel.
🔗Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Join us at the University of Oxford for what is sure to be an insightful lecture from Mr Justice Nicklin, chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Panel.
🔗Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
May 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
💡Is our courts system fit for purpose when it comes to open justice?
Join us at the University of Oxford for what is sure to be an insightful lecture from Mr Justice Nicklin, chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Panel.
🔗Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Join us at the University of Oxford for what is sure to be an insightful lecture from Mr Justice Nicklin, chair of the Transparency and Open Justice Panel.
🔗Register here: www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...