JCIO 15/24

A spokesperson 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 Crawford Kingsnorth JP with formal advice for misconduct after he received six penalty points on his licence for driving without insurance.

The Guide to Judicial Conduct states that judicial office holders are expected to display respect for the law and prudent management of financial affairs.

A case of potential misconduct was referred to the South East Region Conduct Advisory Committee (SERCAC) after Mr Kingsnorth notified his bench chair that he had been issued with six penalty points on his licence for driving without insurance.

Mr Kingsnorth apologised for his actions and explained that he was not aware that his insurance had expired and had mistakenly believed that it was set to renew automatically on a yearly basis. He confirmed that he had other insurance policies with the same company and therefore did not notice the monthly car insurance payment missing from his bank account.

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2014, a conduct panel found that Mr Kingsnorth had failed to display respect for the law and prudent management of financial affairs.

In mitigation, the panel accepted that Mr Kingsnorth has reported the matter to his bench chair immediately and showed genuine remorse and a willingness to learn from the experience.

Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed with the conduct panel’s findings and issued Mr Kingsnorth with formal advice.

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