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Trying to access an inquest this afternoon, emailed y/day to request audio link joining instructions. Told to turn up in court in Rochdale.
Replied stating I didn't feel that it was a safe or proportionate for me to attend court [7hrs on 4 trains in each direction] 1/6
Replied stating I didn't feel that it was a safe or proportionate for me to attend court [7hrs on 4 trains in each direction] 1/6
Stressed the Chief Coroner's guidance https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Chief-Coroners-Guidance-No.-38-Remote-participation-11.06.20.pdf on remote participation in hearings and the emphasis on #OpenJustice and #Scrutiny
2/6
2/6
Since March I've attended, and reported on, numerous inquest hearings by audiolink, one (turns out illegally) via videolink, a Judicial Review hearing and a Court of Protection hearing.
Rochdale's version of MS Teams doesn't allow audio attendance and so I can't attend
3/6
Rochdale's version of MS Teams doesn't allow audio attendance and so I can't attend
3/6
They're looking into that.
I guess we can safely assume no media representative or member of the public has scrutinised any inquests in Rochdale for the last 9.5mths unless they were able to attend in person #OpenJustice
4/6
I guess we can safely assume no media representative or member of the public has scrutinised any inquests in Rochdale for the last 9.5mths unless they were able to attend in person #OpenJustice
4/6
To be fair the Rochdale Coroner did agree to share her ruling once it is public, so I'll blog, hopefully tonight or over the weekend, or failing that early next week.
Can't believe how variable access to coroner's courts still is, 10mths into a global pandemic.
5/6
Can't believe how variable access to coroner's courts still is, 10mths into a global pandemic.
5/6
Hybrid or remote hearings are less than ideal, for all parties, but when it is only public and media who are excluded from attending, what to do? 
#OpenJustice is important, but not important enough to put myself, or others, at that much risk by attending in person IMO
/END
#OpenJustice is important, but not important enough to put myself, or others, at that much risk by attending in person IMO
/END
