Norman v Norman

Judgment

Lady Justice Gloster:

Introduction

This case raises important issues relating to the making of anonymity orders in the Court of Appeal.

On 19 January 2017 the applicant, Tina Norman (whom I shall, for the sake of convenience, refer to as “the wife” or “Mrs Norman”, although she and the respondent, her former husband, Robert Norman (“the husband” or “Mr Norman”), have been divorced for many years) made an application for the continuation of a previous anonymity order made by the Court of Appeal on 30 June 2011 in proceedings B4/2010/1449, or, alternatively, for the imposition of a fresh anonymity order. The anonymity order was sought in relation to financial relief proceedings before the court on 19 January 2017, namely the wife’s application for permission to appeal against an order made by HHJ Raeside on 13 March 2015, and, if permission were granted, the appeal itself. Thorpe, Longmore and Stanley Burnton LJJ.

The court heard argument in relation to the anonymity issue from Mr Matthew Waszak on behalf of the wife, Mr Michael Glaser and Mr Phillip Blatchly on behalf of the husband (who adopted a neutral position in relation to the issue) and Mr Adam Wolanski on behalf of Times Newspapers Limited, Associated Newspapers Limited, Telegraph Newspapers Limited, News Group Newspapers Limited, Sky News ("the media parties") who opposed the application. The court dismissed the wife’s application for anonymity and consequently, with effect from 19 January 2017, discharged the anonymity order made by the Court of Appeal on 30 June 2011, as well as two further orders made by this court (i) on 31 January 2014 in proceedings B/6/2013/2214 and (ii) on 3 August 2016 in these proceedings Patten, McFarlane LJJ and Sir Stephen Sedley. . The court indicated that it would provide its reasons for its order in due course. Macur LJ.

On the same date this court also dismissed the wife’s application for permission to appeal, again indicating that it would provide its reasons in due course. This judgment sets out my reasons for dismissing the wife’s application for an anonymity order. There will be a separate judgment setting out the court’s reasons for dismissing the application for permission to appeal.

Background facts

It is necessary to summarise the background facts so as to explain the context in which the application for anonymity was made. Shortly stated, they are as follows.

The husband is aged forty-nine and the wife is aged nearly fifty-three. They mar