C1 and others -v- Somerset Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-CDF-000089

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

In the matter of an application for judicial review

10 June 2025

Before:

His Honour Judge Keyser KC
sitting as a Judge of the High Court

Between:

The King
on the application of
(1) C1
(2) C2
(3) C3
(4) C4
(5) C5

-v-

Somerset Council

On an application by C1 for anonymity, interim relief and urgent consideration

Following consideration of the documents lodged by C1

ORDER BY HIS HONOUR JUDGE KEYSER KC
SITTING AS A JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT

  1. Anonymity:

(a) Pursuant to CPR r. 39.2(4) and/or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction and/or s. 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998:

(i) the name of each Claimant is to be withheld from the public and must not be disclosed in any proceedings in public; and

(ii) the Claimants are to be referred to orally and in writing in accordance with the heading to this order.

(b) Pursuant to s. 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of any Claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of any Claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.

(c) Pursuant to CPR r. 5.4C(4):

(i) the Claimants must within 7 days file a redacted copy of any statement of case filed, omitting the name, address and any other information likely to lead to the identification of any Claimant;

(ii) if any statement of case subsequently filed includes information likely to lead to the identification of any Claimant, a redacted copy omitting that information must be filed at the same time;

(iii) unless the Court grants permission under CPR r. 5.4C(6), no non-party many obtain a copy of any unredacted statement of case.

(d) Any person wishing to vary or discharge this Order must make an application, served on each party.

Interim relief, expedition and directions

  1. The Claimants do serve the claim form and application bundle and a copy of this order forthwith.
  2. The Defendant do file and serve any representations in respect of the application for interim relief, expedition and a rolled-up hearing by 4pm on 13 June 2025.
  3. The application for interim relief be referred for consideration by a Judge as soon as possible after 13 June 2025 for determination on the papers.

Costs
5. Costs are reserved.

REASONS

(1) The claimants seek permission to apply for judicial review of the defendant’s decision on 7 May 2025 to terminate support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th claimants are the affected children. The 1st claimant is their mother.

(2) Regarding anonymity, the claim relies on personal information concerning the child claimants, in respect of which they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. The harm to them from the publication of such information would significantly outweigh the harm occasioned by the limited derogations from the principle of open justice. All matters of substance in the case will remain capable of publication.

(3) While there are grounds for a prompt consideration of the application for interim relief, I am not satisfied that the urgency is such as to warrant the very tight timetable set out in the draft order. The defendant should be required to make any response to the application very promptly but must still be afforded reasonable time. Further case management issues can properly be considered at that stage.

Signed: HHJ Keyser KC
Date: 10 June 2025