When should judges see children?

The Court of Appeal (Thorpe and Hallett LJ and Sir Mark Potter) today considered a Hague child's objections case involving children aged 15, 13 and 10. A central issue was how the views of the children had been put before the court at first instance, in particular whether the judge should have seen the children. The appeal was allowed with judgments to follow. It seems likely that some guidance on the circumstances in which children are seen by judges may be given.