Section 169 — Family Proceedings Act 1980: Restriction of publication of reports of proceedings

169 Restriction of publication of reports of proceedings (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no person shall publish any report of proceedings under this Act (other than criminal proceedings or proceedings under section 130 of this Act) except with the leave of the Court which heard the proceedings. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, any person may, unless the Court otherwise orders, publish, in relation to proceedings under Part 4 of this Act, the following particulars: (a) The names and addresses of the parties: (b) The name of the presiding Judge: (c) The order made by the Court. (3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section commits an offence against this Act and is liable on summary conviction— (a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to a fine not exceeding $500: (b) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $2,500. (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit— (a) The provisions of any other enactment relating to the prohibition or regulation of the publication of reports or particulars relating to judicial proceedings; or (b) The power of any Court to punish any contempt of Court. (5) Nothing in this section shall apply to the publication of any report in any publication that— (a) Is of a bona fide professional or technical nature; and (b) Is intended for circulation among members of the legal or medical professions, officers of the Public Service, psychologists, advisers in the sphere of marriage or civil union counselling, or social welfare workers. (6) In subsection (5) , psychologist means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Psychologists Board continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of psychology. Compare: 1963 No 71 s 84; 1968 No 62 s 112 Subsection (5)(b) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 44(1) Civil Union Act 2004 (2004 No 102) by inserting the words “ or civil union ” after the word “ marriage ” . Subsection (6) was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.