JCIO 37/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Senior President of Tribunals, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice, and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mr Jeremy Purkis, a non-legal member of the Employment Tribunals in England and Wales, with a formal warning for misconduct.

Facts

The Social Media Guidance for the Judiciary states that judges should be aware of the risk of undermining trust and confidence in the judiciary by expressing, or appearing to endorse, views which could cast doubt on their objectivity.

Mr Purkis had been sitting on a strongly disputed and politically sensitive case where the claimant argued that her dismissal had been unlawful, discriminatory and due to her religious beliefs. During the hearing the claimant’s representative unearthed tweets of a political nature made by Mr Purkis which called into question his impartiality, integrity and propriety as a judicial office holder.

Mr Purkis had responded to a tweet which said, “Only atheists should be allowed to run for office” with “Damn right, you won’t catch us killing in the name of our non-god”. He also suggested that the collective noun for Conservatives should be a “tumour”.

As a result of the tweets coming to light and the possibility of bias, the tribunal panel recused itself after six days of an eight day hearing, at significant cost and inconvenience to the parties and the public purse.

Mr Purkis’s representations

Mr Purkis explained that rather than an attack on organised religion his tweet was intended as a light-hearted comment on the misuse of religion by politicians to fuel conflict. He fully accepted that his intention was unclear in the comment and open to misinterpretation and he offered his apologies for the expense and any potential disrepute that his actions caused to the Tribunal Service. Mr Purkis consented to use of the expedited process.

Decision

The Senior President of Tribunals and the Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office and decided Mr Purkis’s actions amounted to judicial misconduct. In issuing Mr Purkis with a formal warning, they took into consideration his explanation and apology.

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