The opening of the family courts to reporters would appear to be a welcome development. But already, some are querying whether any significant progress has in fact been made at all.

The newly-resurrected Press Gazette reports the difficulties faced by reporters, from confusion of clerks to open hostility of judges.

Meanwhile, the Guardian’s Afua Hirsch reports that a court she attended had not bothered to post listings for the day’s hearings:

‘Why would we?’ a clerk explained. ‘Members of the public aren’t allowed in anyway.’ Told that this was no longer the case, the official was clearly aghast.

Journalists also complained that they must apply to judges for permission to report proceedings. So while the principle of open family courts has been established, it seems there’s still a long way to go for the practice to emerge.