Dr. Charlotte Proudman Faces Disciplinary Tribunal for Criticism of Judge’s Ruling

Barrister Dr. Charlotte Proudman faces misconduct charges for criticizing a judge's ruling on Twitter, sparking debate on gender bias and professional standards.

Dr. Charlotte Proudman, a well-known family law barrister, found herself in the spotlight yesterday as she faced a disciplinary tribunal over five charges of professional misconduct.

These charges originated from her public criticism of a judge’s ruling in a case she was involved in.

Public Criticism of a Judge

In April 2022, Proudman took to Twitter to voice her discontent with a judgment from High Court judge Jonathan Cohen.

In a thread of 14 posts, she argued that his reasoning was unacceptable and made it clear that she would never endorse the trivialization of domestic abuse.

Moreover, she suggested that the ruling reflected an entrenched “boys club” culture among influential men, highlighting Cohen’s ties to the Garrick Club—an exclusive London private members’ club historically known for its lack of female representation.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) claims that Proudman’s remarks are tantamount to professional misconduct.

They argue that her statements misrepresented the judge’s conclusions and included disparaging language aimed at diminishing his authority.

Proudman, however, maintains that she has done nothing wrong.

Support and Testimony

Outside the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service in London, a crowd of supporters rallied in her defense, holding signs bearing messages like “Let Her Speak” and “Blatantly Sexist Board,” indicating a strong show of solidarity.

During the tribunal, her representative, Mónica Feria-Tinta, championed the idea that a robust judiciary should welcome critique, as it fosters democratic debate and fortifies the rule of law.

Feria-Tinta further pointed out a perceived double standard in the treatment of comments made by male barristers, noting past instances where derogatory remarks directed at Proudman had gone unpunished simply because they didn’t employ gendered language or breach the code of conduct.

The proceedings also included testimony that underscored Proudman’s dedication to advancing women’s rights throughout her career.

Mark McDonald, another of her advocates, shared an anecdote about Proudman raising concerns over the lack of female representation in portraits at Lincoln’s Inn Hall while she was his mentee.

He emphasized that following her advocacy, the portrayal of women in these artworks had markedly improved, reflecting her commitment to driving change.

Previous Controversies

Proudman first emerged in the media spotlight back in 2015 when she confronted a senior male solicitor who made an inappropriate comment on her LinkedIn profile picture.

Since that moment, her forthright demeanor has sparked a number of controversies, including her criticisms of transactional dynamics in bar pupillages and more recently, her tweets regarding court processes for rape victims that some labeled misleading.

The tribunal is expected to unfold over four days, drawing attention to this compelling and controversial case.

Source: Legalcheek