Family Business

Frances Hoare succeeded Johanna Senior as Chairman of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum on January 1.

This rather bald announcement on the Judiciary website speaks for itself. What it does not say is that the National Bench Chairmen's Forum is becoming increasingly important in passing the views of ordinary JPs to those running the system, and is seen in some quarters as being a bit less cosy than the Magistrates' Association is sometimes said to be. It also does not say that Frances, whom I know, is the daughter of the late Lord Hailsham, sometime Lord Chancellor.