JCIO 19/23

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mr Jaganmohan Ramachandran JP, appointed to the magistracy in February 2023, with formal advice for misconduct.

When applying to the magistracy, candidates are required to declare any fixed penalty notices they have received in the last five years. They are also required to declare any criminal cautions or convictions including motoring offences.

Mr Ramachandran notified his bench chair that he had received three fixed penalty points on his driver’s licence in March 2023. This was in addition to three points for an earlier speeding offence. On enquiry from his bench chair, he admitted that he had failed to declare the earlier offence on his application to join the magistracy.

Mr Ramachandran apologised for the error, which he explained was an oversight on his part.

Following an investigation, a conduct panel of the Midlands Conduct Advisory Committee found that whilst Mr Ramachandran did not deliberately conceal the earlier speeding offence to gain appointment, the error was serious enough to warrant a finding of judicial misconduct. The panel recommended a sanction of formal advice. Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor 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