JCIO 105/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Mr Adrian Jones JP with a reprimand 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 at least 13 days (or 26 half days) a year. They are also expected to keep in regular contact with their bench and be able to demonstrate commitment to their judicial role.

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

After previously raising concerns with Mr Jones about him falling short of his minimum sittings, the deputy secretary of the London Conduct Advisory Committee recommended that he be removed from office. This was on the basis that he had failed to complete minimum sittings in two of the preceding three years. He had also failed to respond within the timeframe set out in the Rules when invited to make representations as to why he should not be removed from office.

Mr Jones’s representations

In representations received late in the process, Mr Jones explained that his ability to undertake sittings had been affected in recent years by a number of personal challenges. He pointed out that he has been a magistrate since 2005 and gave assurances that he would make arrangements to ensure that he fulfilled his commitments to the magistracy in future.

Decision

After careful consideration of the mitigation offered by Mr Jones, the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor decided to issue Mr Jones with a reprimand, the most serious sanction short of removal from office.

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