Judge Cleared of Harassing Barrister on Twitter

0:00On March 14th, a Portsmouth judge has been cleared of harassing a prominent women's rights barrister through an anonymous Twitter account. Judge Daniel Sawyer faced claims he targeted Dr. Charlotte Proudman with critical posts that mocked her views on gender violence and rape laws. The post stated back to 2022 when he was a part-time judge. Investigators Link Sawyer to the account called yet another tweeting barrister through his passion for horseback archery. He admitted running it but insisted the comments did not cross into bullying. The case raised questions about judges following social media guidelines. Dr. Proudman, a vocal campaigner, described the online attacks as a public display of misogyny unfit for the bench. She believes it was a deliberate effort to undermine her work. Supporters saw it as part of broader pushback against her advocacy. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office reviewed a complaint filed in June 2025 and found no intent to harass. They ruled his actions did not merit any discipline despite an early mix-up in their response.

1:02This outcome highlights ongoing debates over judges online activity, even as both sides stand firm in their positions.