Editorial: Family justice system needs urgent overhaul

The measures, especially the aim of settling more cases before they reach court, gained support from many people involved in the system. However, evidence presented to the constitutional affairs select committee over the past month shows there is a long way to go before the family courts can claim to offer a first-class service to all who pass through their doors.

Cafcass has borne the brunt of the offensive from pressure groups complaining about delays in cases coming to court. But family law experts say the shortage of judges is an equally serious problem. Christina Blacklaws of the Law Society told the committee she would have to wait until July for a one-day hearing at London's Principal Registry for any type of family case - child care, financial or private law. In the past 30 years, the number of family division High Court judges has only risen from 17 to 19, compared with an increase from 45 to 73 in the Queen's Bench. Experts say shortages are common at all levels of the system. The Department for Constitutional Affairs has proposed a network of specialist family courts that would combine the family law work of magistrates and county courts and share expertise. This has been welcomed by campaigners for a unified system.