Court of Appeal hears case of Watts v Watts

The Court of Appeal has heard the appeal of Mr Watts against the Order of a deputy judge of the Chancery Division not to recuse themself from proceedings in circumstances where they were at the same time leading Miss Watts’ junior counsel in an unrelated set of proceedings. Neil McLarnon appeared as sole counsel for the Appellant before Lord Justice Sales, Mr Justice Cobb and Sir Stanley Burnton (PC) against leading and junior counsel for Miss Watts. The Court of Appeal reserved their judgment to be delivered at a future point.

The case raises issues relating to Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights and principles of constitutional law relating to independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the appearance of bias.