Hearing children in family law proceedings: can judges make a difference?

This article discusses the findings of research with members of the Scottish judiciary which explored the circumstances in which some judges chose to speak to children in family proceedings and their reasons for doing so. It argues that judges who speak directly to children are in a position to make a significant difference to a child's experience of participation. The article acknowledges that there are numerous objections to the judicial interview but describes some of the ways in which these objections can be overcome.