Home / Crime and Justice / Judge Cleared in Barrister Trolling Case
Judge Cleared in Barrister Trolling Case
14 Mar
Summary
- A judge was accused of trolling a female barrister on social media.
- The judge admitted to using an anonymous account but denied harassment.
- The watchdog found no intent to bully and no disciplinary action was warranted.
A judge accused of targeting a female barrister through social media has been cleared of harassment allegations. Judge Daniel Sawyer, who sits in Portsmouth, faced claims that he breached judicial social media guidance by trolling Dr. Charlotte Proudman on X. Allegations included posting and liking hostile comments about Dr. Proudman, questioning her knowledge of criminal courts and mocking her views on gender-based violence.
Sawyer admitted to posting under the pseudonym 'Yet Another Tweeting Barrister' but denied his conduct amounted to bullying or harassment. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) investigated a complaint filed in June 2025. The investigation concluded that there was no intent to bully Dr. Proudman and that Sawyer's behavior did not warrant disciplinary action, stating it did not breach disciplinary standards.
Despite the JCIO's ruling, Dr. Proudman maintains that the posts were part of a sustained campaign of harassment and misogyny, deeming the behavior incompatible with judicial standards. A JCIO spokesperson declined to comment on specific investigations or proceedings.
