JCIO 05/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said: The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Upper Tribunal Judge Jonathan Perkins with a formal warning for misconduct.

Facts

A solicitor complained to the JCIO that, following a hearing on 21 June 2023, Upper Tribunal Judge Jonathan Perkins had delayed issuing a judgment in their client’s case for 18 months. The complainant said that they had contacted the court several times to chase this outstanding judgment and the delay had been impacting their client’s wellbeing. Upper Tribunal Judge Perkins’ representations While citing a number of significant personal factors in mitigation, Upper Tribunal Judge Jonathan Perkins accepted that the delay in issuing the judgment was unacceptable and apologised for it.

Nominated Judge’s findings Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023, a nominated judge found that there had been a delay in the delivery of the judgment of 18 months from the date of the relevant hearing. The nominated judge found that the delay was unreasonable and amounted to misconduct based on a failure to display diligence and care in the discharge of judicial duties.

The nominated judge acknowledged Upper Tribunal Judge Jonathan Perkins’ personal mitigation, his acceptance of responsibility and his apology. However, the nominated judge determined that the misconduct was aggravated by the length of the delay, the failure to address the solicitor’s requests to chase the judgment and the fact that Upper Tribunal Judge Jonathan Perkins was aware at the time that he had previously received a sanction for another excessively delayed judgment. The nominated judge also took into account that the delay in this case has a considerable impact on the complainant’s client.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor agreed with the nominated judge’s recommendation to issue Upper Tribunal. 
 

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