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Justice, it is always said, must not only be done, it must be seen to be done.

Yet that has not routinely applied in the family courts.

Until that is, an experiment in open justice began.

For a year in three court centres, journalists are able to report cases and speak to families, provided we keep them anonymous.

These judgments can affect families forever.

They include placing children in care or for adoption.

Producer Katie Inman and I spent several weeks in Leeds family courts following cases.

While many involved children being separated from their parents. In others, we saw them being reunited, after experts advised

the court that parents could safely care for their children. Our first story is one of those cases,

an exceptional one, researchers told us, where a mother has got

her fifth baby back after having four other children taken into care. All names have been changed,

words are spoken by actors. Jesse is a mother of five, but Freddie is the only baby she's

been able to keep.

He was taken into care the day he was born, but last month the family court said he could

return to his parents for good. Jesse is not her real name, and her words are spoken by an actor.

It just felt so strange. I mean, the first night we had him at home, it were really, really strange

to wake up to a crying baby. I woke up thinking, what's that? But then when I peaked over

the cot and saw his little smiley face, I were just like, yeah, the fight was worth it. And I'm so

glad that I didn't give up. Jesse had mental health problems, had abused drugs and alcohol.

Her first son was taken away at birth.

She quickly got pregnant again.

...