Sir James Munby: Judges use child protection laws to cover up their decisions

The former president of the High Court’s Family Division said that curbs on media reporting “prevent public officials being held to account”.

He made the comments when giving evidence to a transparency review of the family court last week.

Sir James said: “There are cases … where the only person being protected … is the judge.”

The story of a family whose baby was taken from them for nearly three months only became reportable last week. A radiologist dismissed a diagnosis that the child had suffered possible fractures – the suspicion that had led to separation.

The judge said reporting rules made it “very, very difficult to get inside what the local authorities are up to”.

He added: “Practice varies enormously. Some of them are very good, some we know for a fact are appalling.”

The transparency review’s report is due to be published in July.