“23. SP’s capacity at the relevant time does arise on the current pleadings in Jersey in relation to whether any disavowal of J14 which he might have made can be regarded as genuine. For that reason, in my judgment, justice would be done in the proceedings in Jersey if all relevant documents, other than those covered by legal professional or litigation privilege, disclosed in the Court of Protection proceedings were available to the parties in the open proceedings before the Royal Court. I make that comment recognising that different considerations may arise in the Court of Protection and that it is entirely a matter for that Court to decide whether and if so to what extent, documents should be released from the restrictions applicable to its proceedings. 24. I note that the parties to the Jersey proceedings have the documents anyway. The issue is whether they can use them. If the Court of Protection is minded so to do, I would certainly encourage the limited lifting of restrictions to enable the use of those documents in the Jersey proceedings, subject of course to any claims of privilege: and in that context, I make no decision, because I have heard no argument, as to whether the privilege which SP or GP could have asserted, had they lived, can be claimed by their descendants in the Jersey proceedings.” 25. It may be that, having regard to these comments, no letter from the Royal Court to the Court of Protection is necessary. This part of the judgment is delivered in public and the parties can rely on it to the extent that they wish to do so in any application they make elsewhere.”
“Those who have mental capacity can deal with their private affairs confidentially and in private. The general rule in COPR 4.1 recognises that a person who lacks mental capacity to deal with their private affairs should similarly be entitled to the same privacy. The Court of Protection is only involved because the person’s reduced capacity requires interference in their personal autonomy.”
“It is for the person seeking access to documents to explain why they seek them and how granting them access will advance the open justice principle … If there is no good reason for granting disclosure, that will be the end of the matter. Moreover, disclosure of court documents in the fulfilment of the transparency objectives … should be limited, in my judgment, to the extent essential to achieve those objectives and no further. Indeed, there are many legitimate reasons why extensive disclosure of court documents should not be ordered in cases involving such intensely personal matters arising in the Court of Protection.”
“ought to specify clearly the documents in respect of which permission is sought and similar care should be taken in drawing up any order, listing the documents by way of schedule in appropriate cases so there can be no doubt which documents are covered. In general, it is inappropriate to seek a release in respect of disclosed documents wholesale, not least because the court needs to carry out a balancing exercise and it is only in special circumstances that the restriction or undertaking is to be modified.”