JCIO 36/23

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 Mr Brian Lawn JP with a formal warning for misconduct. The Guide to Judicial Conduct requires judicial office-holders to display a respect for the law and observance of the law.

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2014, Mr Lawn was found to have committed misconduct by accruing 11 penalty points for speeding offences. Additionally, he failed to report these offences to his bench chair.

In deciding to issue him with a formal warning, Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor considered that, while he paid the penalties for his offences promptly, Mr Lawn did not express regret for the offences. A further aggravating factor was that Mr Lawn failed to comply with his obligation to report the accrual of more than six penalty points on his licence to his senior judicial officer.

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