Blake, Seymour and Thorp -v- Fox

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionMedia and Communications ListTransmission Direction Order

Claim number: QB-2021-001248

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Media and Communications List

29 September 2023

Before:
Mr Justice Nicklin

Between:
(1) Simon Blake
(2) Colin Seymour
(3) Nicola Thorp
-v-
Laurence Fox


Order

Upon the Pre-Trial Review having been fixed for hearing on Monday 23 October 2023 (“the Hearing”), WITHOUT A HEARING IT IS ORDERED that:

  1. Any request by a person not taking part in the proceedings (“an applicant”) for a direction under s.85A(3)(b) Courts Act 2003 for permission to watch or listen to the Hearing remotely (“a transmission direction request”) must be made (in accordance with Paragraph 2 of this Order) by 4.30pm on Monday 16 October 2023.
  2. Transmission direction requests must be sent to kbjudgeslistingoffice@justice.gov.uk and must include the following:

    a. the full name of the applicant;

    b. the email address of the applicant;

    c. information as to whether the applicant would be located within the jurisdiction of England and Wales at all times when attending the Hearing remotely (if a transmission direction were to be made); and, if not, details of the applicant’s location;

    d. any information the applicant wishes to provide in support of the request, including in particular any reason(s) why it is contended that making such a direction would be in the interests of justice; and

    e. a statement by the applicant in the following terms:

    “I agree and undertake to the Court that, if permitted to attend the Hearing remotely, I will not make a recording, capture images, and/or broadcast any part of the proceedings. I understand that to do so may be an offence and/or contempt of court, punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. I will abide by any directions given to me by the Court during the Hearing.

    “I agree and undertake to the Court that I will not provide the link that I am given to access the Hearing to any other person.”

  3. A transmission direction request that is not made by the deadline imposed by Paragraph 1 of this Order and/or does not comply with Paragraph 2 of this Order may be refused. Any transmission direction request made otherwise than in accordance with the directions in Paragraph 1 and 2 must be made by way of Application Notice.

Reasons

(A) The Court anticipates that there is likely to be interest from media representatives
and members of the public in attending remotely the Hearing on 23 October 2023.
To manage the process, I have set out a procedure whereby anyone who wishes
to attend the Hearing remotely can make a transmission direction request.

(B) The Court will not normally grant a transmission direction request in respect of an
applicant who will not be in England & Wales during the Hearing. Anyone making
a transmission direction request who will not be in England & Wales should provide
information (pursuant to paragraph 2(d) above) as to why it would nevertheless be
in the interests of justice to make a transmission direction order in his/her case.

(C) Late requests, because they cause disruption to the Court’s work are likely to be
refused, unless there are compelling reasons why the applicant was unable to
comply with the Court’s directions.


29 September 2023