Equal Treatment Bench Book: May 2025 update
Cross JurisdictionalDiversity InformationLady Chief JusticeBench BookJudicial College
A regular update to the July 2024 edition of the Equal Treatment Bench Book (ETBB) has been published online.
The ETBB aims to increase awareness and understanding of the different circumstances of people appearing in courts and tribunals.
Containing practical guidance, the ETBB aids effective communication to help make the court experience fair for all, and accessible for parties and witnesses who might be uncertain, fearful or feel unable to participate.
The May 2025 update includes several recent developments and additional or changed content, including:
- a new section on emotional support dogs in court
- a change to the title and contents of Chapter 8, now called: “Race and ethnicity”
- an update to the test for intermediaries (family cases), following the Court of Appeal decision in M (A Child: Intermediaries) [2025] EWCA Civ 440 (external link)
- updates to Chapters 6, 12 and Appendix A, following judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16 (external link).
A PDF of the ETBB – July 2024 (May 2025 update) is available below.
A Word version of the Equal Treatment Bench Book is available for those who find the PDF is incompatible with their screen reader. To request a copy, please email jcpublications@judiciary.uk, stating the type of screen reader you use.