Ban on naming Sara Sharif care case judges would have ‘corrosive impact’, court told

Media organisations are challenging ruling that they cannot name three judges involved in proceedings relating to 10-year-old who was later murdered

A unprecedented ban on naming judges who oversaw proceedings related to the care of Sara Sharif before she was murdered is likely to have a corrosive impact" on public confidence in the justice system, the court of appeal has been told.

Mr Justice Williams ruled in December that the media could not name three judges who oversaw three sets of family court proceedings relating to the 10-year-old schoolgirl over concerns they would be subject to a virtual lynch mob". He also said he did not believe the media could be trusted to report matters in a fair, accurate and responsible way.

Several media organisations that won the right to challenge the order, including the Guardian, told a court of appeal hearing on Tuesday that the ban posed a threat to open justice and the judges should be named in the interests of transparency.