Julia Cheetham KC

Julia regularly appears in cases which involve complex medical evidence relating to the death or serious injury of children including sexual abuse and abnormal illness behaviour. She appears in the High Court in cases involving serious medical treatment issues and complex packages of care (including the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment) and in the Court of Protection.

Cases where one parent has killed the other are a particular area of expertise for Julia. She regularly represents children, parents and local authorities in such cases, many of which have involved high profile criminal proceedings and/or serious case reviews. She has represented the children in cases involving alleged removal of children from the jurisdiction to Syria.

In 2018 and 2019 Julia represented respondents in two of the largest cases of alleged sexual abuse which have been heard in the Family Court.

Julia has an interest in disability issues and Human Rights, in particular those relating to deaf and learning-disabled parents. She has significant experience in cases involving transgender children and represented the father in the ground breaking case of Lancashire County Council v TP [2019] EWFC 30.

Notable Public Law Children cases

Care proceedings concerning 11 year old boy. Judgment considering whether fact finding hearing required to determine cause of death of the boy’s niece.

Application by three media organisations for release of documents relating to care proceedings concerning two children, one of whom was killed by his parents.

Judgment by the President of the Family Division to highlight the unsatisfactory delays in the provision of post-mortem reports in suspected child homicide cases, and to describe possible alternative ways for the Family Court to proceed.

Largest public law family case that has been litigated.

The Court of Appeal refused the mother (“M”) permission to appeal an earlier decision to refuse to admit expert evidence obtained by M without the court’s permission and without notice to the other parties. M’s actions were a clear breach of s.13 Children and Families Act 2014.

Two cases as to whether an English court can making secure accommodation orders, under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction, for a child to be placed in a unit in Scotland, and whether the orders would be enforced in Scotland.

Mother accused of attempting to take her children to Syria.

Case involving the security measures to be put in place following the interim hearing in X (Children) below.

Case involving secure accommodation and good practice for the provision of mental health services to vulnerable young people.

Case involving the provisions to be made for children where it is alleged there is a flight risk to Syria.

Case involving injuries to a young child with vitamin D deficiency and a metabolic bone disorder.

Case involving the killing of a two year old by the mother’s boyfriend.