Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Private hearings, anonymisation and reporting restrictions in civil proceedings: guidance on CPR 39.2, applications, confidentiality and media access (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines the core position that, consistent with the fundamental principle of open justice, hearings should ordinarily be held in public under CPR 39.2. It also explains the circumstances in which a court may order that a matter be determined in private (frequently described as ‘in chambers’ or ‘in camera’) pursuant to CPR 39.2. Guidance is provided on making an application for a private hearing and on the court’s discretion to sit in private, including where civil and criminal proceedings are underway at the same time. The Note additionally discusses closed hearings, reporting restriction orders, and the media’s access to the courts. It should be read alongside Practice Note: —illustrative decisions. Note, too, that CPR 39.2 was substantially amended with effect from 6 April 2019—see News Analysis: CPR changes—6 April 2019. Some of the authorities mentioned in this Practice Note were decided before the amendments to CPR 39 took effect, and thus pre-date the current wording now...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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