Barrister relieved after professional misconduct case ‘hell’ dismissed

A high-profile barrister has told of her relief as “more than two-and-a-half years of hell” came to an end after a professional misconduct case against her was dismissed.

Women’s rights campaigner Dr Charlotte Proudman, who specialises in family law, had faced a Bar Standards Board disciplinary tribunal over a 14-part Twitter thread criticising a judge’s ruling over a domestic abuse case, saying it echoed a “boys’ club”.

The five charges against her were dropped on Thursday. They alleged Dr Proudman had “failed to act with integrity” in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were “misleading” and “inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge” in the case.

She was also accused of behaving in a way “which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession”, and that she “knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public” by making the posts.

Speaking to media after the hearing, Dr Proudman said: “I’m relieved. Relieved after more than two-and-a-half years of this hell.”

Panel chairman Nicholas Ainley found her tweets are protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right of freedom of expression.

He said her tweets did not “gravely damage” the judiciary, which would “put them outside” of Article 10 protection.

“We take the view that the judiciary of England and Wales is far more robust than that,” he said.