A reader in the Church of England, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Liverpool, Mr Justice Hedley is also well-versed in ethical dilemmas.

His faith makes it likely that he will sympathise with the parents’ wishes to keep their child alive, but ultimately his decision will be based on the law, as shaped by recent precedent.

High-profile trials that Mr Justice Hedley has handled include awarding an infertile man recognition in law as the father of a child born to his partner after fertility treatment.

Mr Justice Hedley made the declaration of paternity on the basis that the man had signed the original consent form for the IVF treatment, which the couple had undertaken “together”. It was overturned by the Court of Appeal, but the House of Lords has granted the man leave to challenge that ruling.

In another hearing, he also said that he was “quite satisfied” that a man cleared of murder and manslaughter in a “shaken-baby” case was culpable and should have realised the potential dangers of his actions. The case before Mr Justice Hedley was to decide custody of another child.

On Monday, Mr Justice Hedley ruled that Charlotte’s case should be heard in open court after hearing argument from lawyers on both sides of the case and from media groups anxious to report the hearing.

Sir Mark Hedley, 58, became a High Court judge three years ago. A father of four, he went to Framlingham College and Liverpool University, being called to the bar in 1969.

He bcame a recorder in 1988 and a judge on the Northern circuit in 1992, a position he held for nine years before moving to the High Court, where he is a judge in the Family Division.

Away from court he enjoys cricket and railways.

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