Judges' safety versus open justice?

In January the Court of Appeal overturned an anonymity order made by Mr Justice Williams, in Tickle & anor v The BBC & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 42. The judges concerned, Judge Alison Raeside and retired circuit judges Peter Nathan and Sally Williams, had not sought anonymity.

Ten-year-old Sara was murdered by her father and stepmother in August 2023.

Rachel Frost-Smith, family legal director at law firm Birketts, said: ‘In addition to putting a spotlight on the profoundly tragic circumstances of Sara’s short life, the case highlights the incredibly difficult work that the family court and associated professionals do in relation to children and the high stakes of the decisions that judges make.

‘This work is done against a backdrop of well publicised cuts to public funding, which brings with it heavy caseloads for professionals and judges. Family judges have been subjected to a series of attacks from disgruntled litigants (many of whom do not have access to legal advice). Other professionals have been similarly targeted, for example the staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital during the Charlie Gard case [a 2017 case concerning the life of a child with brain damage], some of whom received death threats.

‘While those making decisions should be held accountable, and procedures and protocol put in place for good reason followed, it is clearly wholly unacceptable for those judges and professionals to be attacked in any way.’

Judge Raeside has previously been the victim of stalking and harassment by a father involved in contact proceedings—the man was imprisoned and given a five-year restraining order at Bristol Crown Court in 2019. Last year, a man was imprisoned for attacking Judge Patrick Perusko, a family court judge, in Milton Keynes County Court.