Judicial powers

Question 1

Judicial powers

inquests

Answer 1

• A coroner has power to jail a witness for contempt of court if they fail to attend
• And to make a section 39 order under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, to prevent a juvenile (under 18) ‘concerned in the proceedings’ from being identified by the media
• Or a Section 11 order under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 to ban the media from publishing the name of any witness whose name – the coroner has decided – will not be referred to in court
• The media can challenge these orders in same way as in the criminal courts