JCIO 25/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office Said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Recorder Andrew Tidbury with formal advice for misconduct.

The Guide to Judicial Conduct states that judicial office-holders are expected to display diligence and care in the discharge of judicial duties.

A litigant in family proceedings complained that Recorder Tidbury had failed to comply with a direction issued by the High Court in July 2023, which directed that he should clarify an order that he had made in April 2023.

Recorder Tidbury accepted that he had overlooked the direction and offered his apologies. He complied with the direction as soon as he was notified of the complaint.

The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor considered the matter under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023 and decided that a delay of nearly 7 months in complying with the direction amounted to judicial misconduct. In issuing Recorder Tidbury with formal advice, they took into consideration his acceptance of the delay, his apology and immediate action to rectify the matter.

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