JCIO 10/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Tribunal Judge Stephen Reeder of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The Guide to Judicial Conduct reminds office holders of the need for ‘diligence and care in the discharge of judicial duties.’

The JCIO received a complaint alleging that Tribunal Judge Reeder had delayed issuing a reserved judgment following a court hearing in February 2025. Despite repeated chasers sent by the complainant to the court about the matter, the judgment remained outstanding at the time of their complaint to the JCIO in September 2025.

Tribunal Judge Reeder’s representations

Tribunal Judge Reeder accepted full responsibility for the delay. He explained that he had to take extended periods of leave due to personal circumstances, which had disrupted his work during 2025.

Nominated Judge’s findings and recommendation

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023, a nominated judge found that at the time of the investigation, the judgment had been outstanding for over 10 months. The nominated judge found that this delay was unreasonable considering that Tribunal Judge Reeder had intermittent attendance at work and so had opportunities to remedy the outstanding judgment or offer an explanation to the parties. The nominated judge concluded that this delay constituted a failure to discharge judicial duties with the requisite diligence and care, and that this amounted to misconduct.

In recommending a sanction of formal advice the nominated judge took into consideration Tribunal Judge Reeder’s previous unblemished record and his personal mitigation.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor agreed with the nominated judge’s findings and recommendation to issue Tribunal Judge Reeder 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