JCIO 85/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued District Judge (DJ) Saunders with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

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

The JCIO received a complaint from a litigant that DJ Saunders had delayed producing an order in family proceedings involving a child for 11 months.

District Judge Saunders’ representations

DJ Saunders apologised to the complainant for the delay in receipt of the order. She believed that she had drafted and sent the order to the court’s administrative staff, and that the delay was a result of administrative failings. However, due to IT issues, she was unable to verify that she had sent the order to the court staff.

Nominated judge’s findings

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023, a nominated judge found that DJ Saunders’ conduct in failing to respond to two “chaser” emails in September 2023 and February 2024 contributed materially to the delay in providing the approved order and amounted to misconduct.

Decision

Having considered the mitigation offered by DJ Saunders, the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor accepted the nominated judge’s findings of misconduct and agreed to issue her with formal advice.

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