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JCIO 33/22
Date: 30 March 2023
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:
The Lord Chancellor, with the Lord Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Mrs Charlotte Hayes, of the North West bench, from the magistracy for failing to meet the undertaking she gave on appointment to sit for at least 13 full or 26 half-days a year, and for failing to maintain contact with her bench chair.
Mrs Hayes had not sat since January 2020. She did not respond to the bench’s attempts to contact her to resolve the matter informally. She did not respond to notification of disciplinary proceedings, including an invitation to attend a disciplinary hearing.
While acknowledging that Mrs Hayes had been dealing with challenging personal circumstances, the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice were satisfied that the bench had acted reasonably in seeking her removal, having granted her lengthy leaves of absence, and made significant efforts over time to engage with her and support her return to sitting.
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
