Mr Justice Williams is a British High Court judge in the Family Division. Sir David Basil Williams is known as The Honourable Mr Justice Williams and should be addressed in court as “My Lord”.
Mr Justice Williams was born on the 18th June 1964 in Bedford and was educated at Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard. He completed his LLB at the University of Leicester and the BVC at the Inns of Court School of Law. From 1986 to 1989, he worked as an executive officer at the Legal Aid Board.
Mr Justice Williams was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1990, specialising in family law. He practiced from 3 Dr Johnson’s Buildings from 1990 to 2000 and then from 4 Paper Buildings until 2017.
David Williams took Silk in 2013, was appointed a Recorder in 2016 and a High Court Judge of the Family Division in 2017. Mr Justice Williams took the customary knighthood the same year.
Mr Justice Williams has been appointed as the Family Division Liaison Judge for the South Eastern Circuit (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & Thames Valley) with effect from 30 September 2020 where he will succeed Mr Justice Moor.
Appointment of Family Division Liaison Judges – June 2020
On the 4th September 2024 a New Family Presiding Judge Appointed for the South Eastern Circuit (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & Thames Valley) was announced.
The Lady Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has announced the appointment of a Family Presiding Judge.
Ms Justice Henke has been appointed for a period of four years, with effect from 1 October 2024, to the South Eastern Circuit (Kent, Surrey, Sussex & Thames Valley) where she will succeed Mr Justice Williams.
Mr Justice Williams succeeded by Ms Justice Henke
Sara Sharif Case and Open Justice
Open justice is a fundamental principle which means that Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. Open justice ensures that the public can have confidence in the fairness and transparency of the legal system.
Sara Sharif judge who gave father custody will not be named
Mr Justice Williams, a Family High Court judge, has been widely criticised for his Reporting Restriction Order. The order prohibits the press from publishing “the name of any third parties referred to in the historic proceedings for the avoidance of doubt including social worker, guardian other named professionals and experts instructed in the proceedings and any judge who heard the historic proceedings”.
Banning the press from identifying judges is said to be unprecedented.
It has been reported that it was a senior judge at Guildford that presided over the case in 2019. The designated and most senior family judge at Guildford is/was HHJ Alison Raeside who was appointed on 01-01-19 and remains in office. The gov.uk website contradicts the judiciary website ““Judge Alison Raeside…and was the Designated Family Judge for Surrey from 2019 until 2024”. What happened to HHJ Raeside ?
Mr Justice Williams judgment from a hearing on the 9th December 2024 was handed down remotely at 10.30am on the 20th December 2024. The judgment explains Mr Justice Williams reasoning behind his decision.
The High Court judge who controversially blocked the identification of professionals in the Sara Sharif case was accused of an ‘unjustified’ attack on the Press last night after suggesting that the media cannot be trusted to report fairly.
In an extraordinary broadside, Mr Justice Williams said he imposed an anonymity order to prevent a ‘virtual lynch mob’ because he did not believe the media could be trusted to report matters in a fair, accurate and responsible way.
Fury as Sara Sharif judge says the Press can’t be trusted to be fair as he controversially blocked the identification of professionals – Daily Mail
On the 19th December 2024, Media organisations including the Daily Mail won the right to challenge Mr Justice Williams’s order. The Master of the Rolls, who is a Court of Appeal judge, granted permission to appeal as the open justice arguments have a realistic prospect of success. The appeal over naming the judges will be heard on 14th and 15th January in front of three Court of Appeal judges.
It seems highly suspicious that Mr Justice Williams was succeeded by Ms Justice Henke on the 1st October 2024 (although this could be a coincidental 4 year appointment) and HHJ Alison Raeside, it appears is no longer the the designated and most senior family judge at Guildford.
Was it appropriate that Mr Justice Williams heard the case FD23P00425 which involved judges that reported to him as the Family Presiding Judge for the South East Circuit ?
Did Mr Justice Williams attempt a cover up for “his mates” in the South East Circuit ? Oh My Lord !
Sussex Family Justice Board
Mr Justice Williams was listed as member of the Sussex Family Justice Board which is a highly dubious “family justice” cartel operating in Sussex. Mr Justice Williams membership was against the rules and incompatible with the independent position of the judiciary
Mr Justice Williams was the Family Division Liaison Judge for the South Eastern Circuit from September 2020 to September 2024 and was “the boss” of HHJ Farquhar, HHJ Bedford and other dubious judges in Sussex such as DDJ Nicholes.
The Lady Chief Justice, Lord Chancellor, or President of the Family Division should shut down the Sussex Family Justice Board as it is an embarrassment to justice and the law.
Could Mr Justice Williams be Removed as High Court Judge ?
The three key values which are central to the role of judicial office holders (JOHs) in England and Wales are:
• Independence
• Impartiality
• Integrity
“Publicity is the very soul of justice. . . . It keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial….Where there is no publicity there is no justice”
Jeremy Bentham – Mr Justice Cobb: ‘Justice must be seen to be done’
If Mr Justice Williams was party in an attempt a cover up for his judges, then in my opinion, he should be removed from office.
Both Houses of Parliament have the power to petition The King for the removal of a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.
This power originates in the 1701 Act of Settlement and is now contained in section 11(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
It has never had to be exercised in England and Wales. It has in fact only been exercised once, when Sir Jonah Barrington was removed from office as a judge of the Irish High Court of Admiralty in 1830 for corruption: he misappropriated funds due to litigants. No English High Court or Court of Appeal judge has ever been removed from office under these powers. Circuit and District Judges can be removed by the Lord Chancellor. However, they can only do so if the Lord Chief Justice agrees.
Judges and Parliament – HM Courts and Tribunal Judiciary
Image of Mr Justice Williams : avalon.red
Check out our articles on Dodgy Judges, His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC, His Honour Judge Guy Kearl, His Honour Now His Dishonour, His Honour Judge Michael Slater, His Honour Judge Martin Davis, HHJ Farquhar, HHJ Bedford, DDJ Nicholes, Do you Have to Bow to a Judge ?, Can you Email a Judge ?, Can you Criticise a Judge ? and the highly dubious Sussex Family Justice Board.
The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession or any law enforcement agencies.
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William Ewart Gladstone
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Mr Justice Williams was last updated on the 16th January 2025
