Court three of the Royal Courts of Justice was packed out for the result of the Law Society’s challenge to the family legal aid tender last week. But the press pack became somewhat disconcerted when they learned that the court’s stenographers had been engaged for the next four hours. Four hours? When pleas to be given a written copy of the judgment, or for the decision to be given at the start, fell on deaf ears, there were mutterings among the hacks of a ‘cruel and unusual punishment’.

Then, with only a glass of water and packet of what appeared to be throat sweets to sustain him, Lord Justice Moses delivered his epic judgment, which lasted from 2.30pm until 6.15. Quite a feat of endurance for the Lord Justice. Not to mention for those listening.