Thread by @RuthMarchant

#Howtobuildrapport V happy the ICCA 20 principles have been ‘refined’. 'You do not need to build rapport with the witness' is replaced with guidance for judges & advocates. bit.ly/2E57r6z . For the 3000 advocates trained not to, here are ideas on how to build rapport..

#howtobuildrapport No 1: Anxious 7 year old shows judge and advocates the building he has made on Minecraft, goes through 'talking rules' for trial. Time taken: 6 minutes

#howtobuildrapport No 2: Quiet, fearful five year old. Judge and advocates join in with colouring in the live-link room, then practice the 'say if someone gets it wrong' rule. Six minutes total. As they leave, child says loudly 'See, they aren't even cross with me.'

#howtobuildrapport No 3: Wildly lively four year old is doing star-jumps barefoot in the live-link room when judge and advocates visit. Judge agrees evidence can be given without shoes, We practice 5 questions (about nursery), then 5 star-jumps. Cross-exam proceeds smoothly

#howtobuildrapport No 4: Across remote live-link, judge encourages terrified three year old out from behind a chair, agrees his evidence can be given with child sitting on intermediary's feet, with playdough and with his hood up.

#howtobuildrapport No 5: Furious 13 year old sits facing wall as judge & advocates arrive. We talk about footballers preparing for matches, like getting ready for cross-exam. He listens. Silence. 5 minutes later he is ready.

#howtobuildrapport No 6: Judge and 3 QCs meet young, complex witnesses in a child-friendly setting away from court. Structured 1:1 activities with intermediary support. Time taken: 2 hours. Trial proceeds smoothly against all predictions. And no-one tells anyone to f*** off.

#howtobuildrapport No 7: Live-link room rearranged so no-one can approach the 4 year old with autism from behind. When the Judge & QCs visit, child removes the seat cushion, sits inside chair frame, face just visible between feet sticking up. Judge agrees. Evidence given calmly.

#howtobuildrapport No 8: Witness aged four, terrified the defendant will shout at him. Judge meets child with intermediary, plays sand, speaks quietly, explains ‘everybody has to be shush’ in her court. Rule stated verbatim throughout cross-exam, checked several times by child.

#howtobuildrapport No 9: At pre-trial visit, judge asks baffled witness aged 7 to help her be a wise owl judge. Witness suggests she sleeps in the day and eats mice at night. Then says but we don't do pretend at court - you are a judge really, right?

#howtobuildrapport No 10: Furious witness aged 12 calls judge and both QCs f***ing c**nts when they come to meet him. We agree that during cross-exam swear-words will be whispered to intermediary who will write them down and share later. Works perfectly.

#howtobuildrapport No 11: 7 year old witness anxious about saying 'rude' words at court. Judge looks carefully at list of words child has written in tiny writing. Says all are OK to say in his court. 'Even c**t?' she asks. 'Even c**t' he says. Cross-exam proceeds smoothly.

#howtobuildrapport No 12: Makeshift den built in live-link room with 6 year old murder witness. Judge talks quietly to intermediary about how safe his court is for 20 minutes before child will come out. Evidence given with frequent 'hiding breaks', jury unaware.