JCIO 10/25

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Mrs Susanna Craig from the magistracy for failure, without a reasonable excuse, to complete the minimum annual sittings required of a magistrate.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking which includes a commitment to sit for a minimum number of days per year. Mrs Craig sits in two jurisdictions and is required to sit for 15 days (30 half-days) a year.

The summary process in the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023 enables an advisory committee to recommend a magistrate’s removal from office without further investigation where that magistrate has failed, without a reasonable excuse, to meet their minimum sitting requirement.

Midlands Conduct Advisory Committee recommendation

The Midlands Conduct Advisory Committee recommended Mrs Craig’s removal from the magistracy after she failed to meet her sitting requirement for the last three years. She also failed to respond to correspondence from her bench chair. Mrs Craig did not respond to the advisory committee’s attempts to contact her about the matter.

Decision

The Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice agreed with the recommendation to remove Mrs Craig from office without further investigation.

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