The Children Act

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, religious discrimination, and death.

Fiona sets off for work at the Royal Courts of Justice. On the way, she tries not to think about anything and studies her surroundings instead. She plays a Bach piece in her mind to distract herself, but the song immediately reminds her of Jack. She feels self-pitying again and begins listing all of her annoyances with her husband. At 59, she suddenly feels alone and abandoned. She turns her attention to the nearby Great Hall, but her mind returns to Jack again. Suddenly, she can’t stop thinking about her childlessness, either.

Fiona always wanted a child, but after she and Jack fell in love and married, they decided to wait to have children. At first, she was busy with school and exams. Then she was in law school and taking the bar. Then, she and Jack’s families would visit. When she saw their nieces and nephews, Fiona’s desire for children returned, but she kept putting off a family to focus on her career. Finally, she was sworn in and took the Judicial Oath. She became consumed by work, and the years passed.

Crossing New Square, Fiona is upset, thinking about the children that she never had. Finally, she arrives at the Courts of Justice and moves through the elaborate space. She greets Nigel outside her chambers and settles in for the day. Eventually, she reads the papers associated with Adam Henry, the case Nigel mentioned the evening before. She reads the background on his parents, Kevin and Naomi Henry, before getting up for a coffee. In the hall, she runs into Justice Sherwood Runcie, a colleague she doesn’t always like. She thinks of one of his recent rulings, unsure if she agrees. He tells her a legal joke, and she feigns amusement before returning to her work.

Fiona rules on several cases throughout the day before returning to her chambers late that afternoon. Feeling annoyed that Jack hasn’t contacted her all day, she calls a locksmith about changing the locks on their flat. Then she reopens Adam’s file, which is “an urgent application” because of his tenuous health condition (57). 

Finally, she leaves the courthouse for the day. Suddenly disinterested in being home or seeing Jack, she takes a detour, wending through the city streets. When she finally returns, she feels relieved that Jack isn’t home but surprised that there’s no evidence of the locksmith’s work. Inside, she tries to enjoy the silence of Jack’s absence. She has a drink, plays the piano, and lies on her bed listening to the radio until she falls asleep.

In the morning, Fiona returns to work. She sorts through files, applications, arguments, and submissions. Although moody, she tempers her feelings to focus on her work and get through the day. However, her mind keeps drifting to the stack of ignored invitations on her desk. She thinks about her isolation and realizes that Jack might be right to leave her. She checks her email and phone, but he still hasn’t contacted her; his silence reinvigorates her irritation.

Fiona turns her attention back to her work. Throughout the rest of the day, her mind drifts between her various trials and lingering disappointments in her personal life. Finally, she and her colleagues Mark Berner, John Tovey, and Leslie Grieve gather in the courtroom to hear the Adam Henry case.

Mark gives the opening statements and lays out the case for Fiona. Adam is three months from turning 18 and thus still under his parents’ guardianship. He has leukemia, and the hospital wants to give him a blood transfusion so that they can administer two new medications to save his life. His parents don’t want the transfusion because it’s against Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs. If Adam doesn’t receive the transfusion, he’ll either die or suffer serious physical and mental repercussions, including potential blindness and/or brain damage. Tovey and Grieve also present arguments and question the Henrys. Fiona listens intently, asking questions when necessary.

Adam’s father, Kevin, explains that their religion prohibits transfusions because taking the blood of other people or animals into their bodies is against Biblical teachings, as it’s unclean. He and his counsel, Grieve, insist that he and Naomi aren’t forcing their beliefs on Adam. He follows their faith and has refused the transfusion of his own volition. Grieve also insists that he’s talented, smart, and artistic, proving that he can make his own choices.

The opposing counsel argues that Adam has been entrenched in the faith for his entire life and can’t think outside of it. If he has the transfusion, he’ll be shunned and lose his family and community. Furthermore, the Henrys and their faith are endangering Adam by refusing his treatment. Opposing counsel also argues that some Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t against blood transfusions. 

Fiona takes a brief recess to return to her chambers. She checks her phone, but Jack still hasn’t texted or emailed. She turns her attention back to the case, reflecting on what she’s heard so far. Back in the courtroom, Fiona hears closing statements. She decides to temporarily suspend the trial so that she can speak to Adam, who is at the hospital, herself.