Magistrate who called colleague ‘trolley dolly' reprimanded
A magistrate who called a female colleague a 'trolley dolly' because she had previously worked as a flight attendant has been found guilty of misconduct.
Michael Barnes was given a warning after making the remark to his fellow magistrate.
She also complained that he had made sarcastic remarks that 'undermined' her law degree, which had been obtained by distance learning, a judicial investigation found.
Mr Barnes apologised but argued that the magistrate had previously described herself as a 'trolley dolly'.
However, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) report found that while the two magistrates had engaged in 'two-way light-hearted banter', he had been 'recklessly unfeeling', resulting in 'emotional harm' to his colleague.
The guide to judicial conduct states that office holders should be 'circumspect in their conduct and should seek to be courteous, patient, tolerant and should respect the dignity of all'.
A spokesman for the JCIO said: 'Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor's agreement, has issued Michael Barnes JP with a formal warning for misconduct.
'A fellow magistrate made a number of allegations about Mr Barnes's behaviour, which included calling her a 'trolley dolly' in reference to her cabin crew career and sarcastic comments which undermined her distance learning law degree.
'Mr Barnes admitted that he had referred to the complainant as a 'trolley dolly' in a light-hearted manner, during a period of retirement.
'He used the term as it was one that the complainant had previously used to describe her job. He apologised for the offence caused.
'However, he did not offer any representations on the complaint that he had undermined her distance learning law degree and denied all other allegations.
'Following an investigation carried out under the judicial conduct (magistrates) rules 2023, a nominated committee member acknowledged that the two magistrates engaged in two-way light-hearted banter, which failed to display professionalism.
'It was accepted that Mr Barnes caused upset by undermining the complainant's distance learning law degree and by referencing her former air cabin career role as a 'trolley dolly'.
'The nominated committee member acknowledged Mr Barnes's apology but found these comments to be 'recklessly unfeeling' through sarcastic humour, resulting in emotional harm to the complainant.
'The nominated committee member found that the comments amounted to misconduct and recommended a formal warning.
'Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor considered the advice of the nominated committee member and agreed with the recommendation.'
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