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Judges in Family Case of Sara Sharif named

by Peter Garsden, President & Solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates

In the tragic case of Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl murdered by her father and stepmother, recent legal proceedings have led to the public naming of the judges involved in her prior family court hearings. Initially, a High Court ruling had anonymized these judges due to concerns over their safety. However, following an appeal by media organizations, including The Guardian and the BBC, the Court of Appeal overturned this decision, emphasizing the importance of transparency in the judiciary.

The judges identified are Alison Raeside, Peter Nathan, and Sally Williams. Judge Raeside presided over most of the hearings, including the critical 2019 decision to place Sara back into the custody of her father, Urfan Sharif, despite his documented history of violence. This decision has been scrutinized following Sara’s death in 2023 after enduring severe abuse.

The appeal to name the judges was driven by the principle of open justice, asserting that judicial decisions, especially those impacting child welfare, should be subject to public scrutiny. Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, criticized the initial anonymity order as “misguided,” reinforcing the necessity for accountability within the family court system.

This case has ignited discussions about the balance between protecting individuals involved in sensitive cases and ensuring transparency in judicial proceedings. It underscores the critical need for accountability in decisions affecting vulnerable children and the role of the media in upholding this accountability.