Barrister who said ruling had echoes of boys’ club’ faces misconduct case

A barrister is facing disciplinary proceedings for expressing frustration at the "echoes of a boys' club attitude" that she claims were in a family court judgment against her client.

- Amelia Gentleman

Charlotte Proudman criticised a judgment of Sir Jonathan Cohen - a member of the men-only Garrick Club - over remarks he made in a family case two years ago. She knew he was a member of the Garrick when she published a series of tweets expressing criticism, but in a defence she argued she had been making a broader point about "unconscious male bias".

When Proudman discovered this year that Philip Havers, the judge appointed to handle her disciplinary proceedings, was also a member of the Garrick, she made a formal request that he recuse himself on the grounds that a "fairminded and informed observer, having considered these facts, would conclude that there was a real possibility of bias". After considering her request, Havers withdrew himself from the case this month.

There is no suggestion that Cohen and Havers discussed this case or any work matters or ever met at the central London club. But it highlights some of the issues around public perception raised by the membership of significant numbers of Britain's most senior judges of a club that has resisted calls to allow female members since the 1960s.