JCIO 08/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Mr Karl McLeish from office as a magistrate for gross misconduct.

On appointment, magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking, which includes a commitment to:

“Be circumspect in my conduct and maintain the dignity, standing and good reputation of the magistracy at all times in my private, working and public life.”

In October 2023, Mr McLeish was arrested in Scotland after his car had clipped a kerb and he had stopped the vehicle at the side of the road. He was later convicted of two offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988, one of which related to being more than two times over the legal alcohol limit. Mr McLeish was fined and disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Following an investigation by the North-West Regional Conduct Advisory Committee, during which Mr McLeish accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised for them, a conduct panel recommended that he be removed from office for gross misconduct. The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice agreed.

Notes for Editors

Media queries in relation to the JCIO should be made in the first instance to the Judicial Press Office - telephone 020 7073 4852 or via email - press.enquiries@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk

Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are set out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. They are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.

For more information about the Office, including details on how to make a complaint against a judicial office holder, you can visit the JCIO website at: Judicial Conduct Investigations website