JCIO 101/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Ms Virginia Claire Jackson from the magistracy for failure, without a reasonable excuse, to complete the minimum annual sittings required of a magistrate.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign an undertaking which includes a commitment to sit for at least 13 days (or 26 half days) a year. They are also expected to keep in regular contact with their bench chair and be able to demonstrate commitment and reliability.

The summary process in the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023 enables an advisory committee to recommend a magistrate’s removal from office without further investigation where that magistrate has failed, without a reasonable excuse, to meet their minimum sitting requirement.

The London Conduct Advisory Committee recommended Ms Jackson’s removal from the magistracy after she had failed to meet the annual minimum sittings for the past three years.

Ms Jackson was previously advised about her low sitting record in 2021 and was encouraged to keep in contact with her bench chair if she felt unable to meet her sitting requirements.

Ms Jackson’s representations

Ms Jackson stated that her health condition affected her ability to sit. She could not recall informing her bench chair of difficulties in meeting sitting requirements but felt that the duty was on the bench chair to monitor her sitting levels. She reiterated her desire to continue as a magistrate and committed to meeting sitting requirements for the current year.

London Conduct Advisory Committee recommendation (LCAC)

In recommending Ms Jackson’s removal from office, the LCAC took into consideration that Ms Jackson had not met the annual minimum sittings requirement for three consecutive years and was not on course to do so for the current year.

The LCAC found that Ms Jackson had not engaged with her bench chair and had failed to provide a reasonable excuse for failing to meet sitting requirements.

Decision

The Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice agreed with the recommendation to remove Ms Jackson from office without further investigation.

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