Latest news with #JudicialConductInvestigationsOffice
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Magistrate said he would cut off body parts of youth offenders
A magistrate who said he would deal with youth offenders by 'cutting off parts of their anatomy' has been handed a formal warning. Michael Berry claimed the comments made to colleagues in a private room were intended as a joke and did not reflect his actual view. But an investigation carried out by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office concluded he should have known that his comments were 'inappropriate, offensive and reckless'. Mr Berry, who works in the South East courts region, was also found to have made a sexist comment later the same day towards a female colleague about how she should not bother her 'pretty little head', the investigation found. He claimed he 'did not recall' making the comments but said his colleague had 'misinterpreted his sense of humour'. The investigation concluded Mr Berry, who has a long unblemished conduct record, made the inappropriate comments, which were 'offensive and derogatory'. 'Whilst Mr Berry had not intended any malice, he should have known that his comments were inappropriate, offensive and reckless,' investigators said. 'Mr Berry had not taken any responsibility for his actions and did not understand the seriousness of his comments.' A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said: 'Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor's agreement, has issued Mr Michael Berry JP with a formal warning for misconduct.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Magistrate told off for texting her daughter during court
A magistrate was told off by a watchdog for texting her daughter while court was in session. Jane Bailey JP acted 'improperly' by getting her phone out during court to send the personal text, a disciplinary investigation found. Mrs Bailey insisted that she received an 'important' message from her daughter and replied. She admitted her wrongdoing and has been issued with a warning by the watchdog. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO), which deals with complaints against judges and magistrates, said Mrs Bailey used her phone during a hearing on Oct 7 last year. 'Following a hearing on October 7 2024, a report was made to the London Conduct Advisory Committee that Mrs Bailey had used her mobile phone to respond to a personal message from her daughter,' a JCIO report said. Using a phone is against magistrate rules. The report said: 'The declaration and undertaking signed by all magistrates on their appointment states that they will be circumspect in their conduct and maintain the good reputation of the magistracy at all times, in their private, working and public lives. 'Additionally, guidance for magistrates advises that devices such as mobile phones should be switched off in court.' Mrs Bailey admitted using her phone and was given a warning. '[She] explained that she had received an important message from her daughter,' the report said. 'In a lapse of judgement, which was out of character, she responded to the message. 'Mrs Bailey accepted that she had acted improperly, for which she apologised. She gave assurances that this had been the only time that she had used her mobile phone in court.' The report added: 'Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice, and the Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the JCIO that Mrs Bailey's actions risked reputational damage to the magistracy. 'In agreeing to issue Mrs Bailey with formal advice, they took into consideration her acceptance of responsibility, her apology and the lack of any previous findings of misconduct against her.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Magistrate shared Hamas video on Oct 7 attacks
A magistrate has been found guilty of serious misconduct after he shared a Hamas video discussing the October 7 attack on Israel. Abdul Malik JP initially claimed that he had been tagged in the video by someone else before admitting that he shared the post himself. The video, which was shared in Oct 2023, reportedly contained an 18-minute talk from a press conference by the terrorist group in which a spokesman described the attack as a 'supremely defensive act' and Israel as 'a cancer that should be eradicated'. Mr Malik, of the Avon and Somerset Bench, insisted that he did not endorse Hamas and has been 'consistently critical' of the group in his position as chair of a large mosque in Bristol. But a committee found that his actions amounted to 'serious misconduct' as Mr Malik 'failed to exercise due care and diligence', both in the sharing of the post and denying responsibility. In England, magistrates are volunteers who preside over criminal and civil cases at Magistrates' courts and family courts. 'Shared the post himself' The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO), which deals with complaints against judges and magistrates, has issued Mr Malik with a warning. The JCIO said that in Oct 2023, a post appeared on Mr Malik's Facebook timeline which showed a video from Hamas regarding their attack on southern Israel. Initially, Mr Malik - who is also a Green Party councillor in Bristol - told the committee that he 'had been tagged in the post by someone else and that it had appeared on his timeline because his account was not protected'. But he later informed the chair, after being challenged, that he 'had discovered he must have shared the post himself'. The JCIO said: 'He explained that he had shared the post without checking its source or content, and did not endorse it, comment on it or 'like' it. 'He agreed the post was offensive and he emphasised that he does not support Hamas… 'He removed the post as soon as he became aware of it and said he regretted sharing it and had learned from the incident.' Mr Malik said his defence was 'given in good faith' and based on his understanding at the time, which he later realises was not correct. The JCIO added: 'He had not initially notified his bench chair of the matter as he did not fully comprehend the potential implications. 'He repeatedly apologised for his behaviour and indicated measures he would take to ensure a similar incident did not occur in future.' Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor's agreement, issued Mr Malik with a formal warning. The committee said: 'The NCM [nominated committee member] found that Mr Malik failed to exercise due care and diligence, both in his sharing of the post and in his initial denial of responsibility, which was publicly discredited and compounded the damage caused by the initial sharing of the post.' Reputational damage Mr Malik gained media attention after the post was discovered and the committee said he also failed to disclose this matter to the judicial body. The JCIO continued: 'The NCM found that Mr Malik's actions had a detrimental effect upon the dignity, standing and good reputation of the magistracy. 'In recommending a formal warning, the NCM took into consideration Mr Malik's previously unblemished conduct record and good standing within the community, including in his role as chair of a large mosque.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
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.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Magistrate given warning over pro-Palestinian posts
A magistrate who posted "politically sensitive" pro-Palestinian content on social media has been issued with formal advice for misconduct. Kirk Master, who sits on the Leicestershire and Rutland bench, was issued with the advice after it was found that his actions had the "potential to damage the reputation of magistrates". The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said concern had been raised that Mr Master had made a number of "politically sensitive posts" on X, in "support of the Palestinian cause in the Middle East". Mr Master accepted responsibility for the posts but did not agree that they could lead to the conclusion that he could be biased in decision-making. He added he did not refer to his judicial status in any of the posts, took his role "extremely seriously and would never consciously let his own opinions impact his judicial role". An investigation found that by posting on a politically sensitive matter, Mr Master had "not demonstrated the standards expected" of a judicial office holder. In recommending formal advice, a nominated judge found that the magistrate "had failed to take into account that his posts could cast doubt on his independence and impartiality". They also found that this, along with the potential to damage the reputation of the magistracy, amounted to misconduct. In a statement issued on Friday, a spokesperson for the JCIO said: "Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed with the findings and issued Mr Master with formal advice. "In making this decision, they took into consideration that Mr Master had no previous findings of misconduct against him, had accepted responsibility for his actions and agreed to reflect on the consequences of what he'd done." According to the JCIO, the social media guidance for the judiciary states that judicial office holders should be aware of the risk of undermining trust and confidence in the judiciary by expressing, or appearing to endorse, views that could cast doubt on the objectivity. The guidance further states that they should also not comment on matters of controversy. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Judicial Conduct Investigations Office
