Feminist barrister, 36, who hit out at choose for ‘being a part of a boys’ membership’ denies prices {of professional} misconduct

A feminist barrister who hit out at a judge for showing a ‘boys’ club’ attitude wept yesterday as she denied five charges of professional misconduct.

Dr Charlotte Proudman is facing disciplinary action by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) over her posts about Sir Jonathan Cohen’s judgement in a family law case she lost in April 2022.

The women’s rights campaigner, 36, appeared in front of a three-person panel chaired by His Honour Nicholas Ainley and denied all allegations of wrongdoing at the tribunal in Gray’s Inn Square, London.

The case stems from Dr Proudman’s comments on Mr Justice Cohen about a family law dispute judgment in a 14-part thread more than two years ago.

‘I lost the case. I do not accept the judge’s reasoning,’ she wrote on social media platform X. ‘This judgment has echoes of the ‘boys’ club’ which still exists among men in powerful positions.’

The lawyer’s comments referred to Mr Justice Cohen’s membership of the Garrick Club which did not allow women to be members until May this year.

Her defence team argued that the proceedings brought against her were an ‘unlawful interference’ of her right to freedom of expression.

Monica Feria-Tinta, acting on behalf of Dr Proudman, argued that the tweets were ‘commentary’ by a ‘feminist’ and not ‘statements of fact’.

Dr Charlotte Proudman (pictured today) is facing disciplinary action by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) over social media posts

Ms Proudman hit out at Sir Jonathan Cohen for showing a ‘boys’ club’ attitude

Supporters gathered to see Ms Proudman on Tuesday 

 She said: ‘A robust judiciary would welcome a level of criticism which actually makes democratic society healthier and the rule of law more robust.

‘Clearly her intention was to share commentary on the specifics that troubled her on issues of domestic violence and issues of gender violence.’

Mark McDonald, also representing Dr Proudman, told the tribunal panel that she had dedicated her career to issues surrounding domestic violence and women’s rights.

The tribunal heard that Dr Proudman had written two books on discrimination and more than 65 articles on issues related to domestic violence and gender discrimination within the law.

‘She has spent her career, her professional life, addressing these issues,’ Mr McDonald said.

He told the tribunal that Dr Proudman was a former mentee of his who had first come to his attention when she wrote and complained about the lack of female portraits in the hall at Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

The subjects depicted in the portraits are now more diverse and he said: ‘That’s an example of how Dr Proudman has led the charge to change things.’

The five charges against Dr Proudman allege that she ‘failed to act with integrity’ with the posts and that they amounted to professional misconduct, were ‘misleading’ and ‘inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge’.

She is 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’.

The lawyer is also accused of having ‘knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public’ by making the posts.

In April, Dr Proudman successfully argued in having Mr Justice Cohen removed from overseeing a case involving an alleged rape and domestic abuse victim, partly due to his involvement with the group.

The disciplinary tribunal is set to last four days and she will argue that the BSB’s decision to bring proceedings against her constitutes an abuse of process.

She has alleged that the regulator is discriminating against her based on her gender and feminist beliefs.

Dr Proudman has argued that the BSB decided not to investigate offensive comments made by nine male barristers who called another judge an ‘idiot’, ‘stupid’ and said he was ‘abusing his power’.

Another lawyer claimed that a judge had ‘rolled back trans rights’, but similarly faced no action.

She said that male barristers who have abused her on social media and called her a ‘c***, ‘mentally ill’, and a ‘narcissist’ haven’t faced any action.

Dr Proudman faces a wait to see whether she will face suspension for up to 12 months or a fine of up to £50,000.

A group of more than a dozen protesters, including her former clients gathered outside the hearing holding placards with slogans such as ‘Blatantly Sexist Board’ and ‘silencing women to protect the establishment’.

The disciplinary tribunal continues.