JCIO 13/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lord Chancellor, with the Lady Chief Justice’s agreement, has removed Miss Claire Mannix JP, of the South Yorkshire Bench, from office for failure, without a reasonable excuse, to meet the minimum sittings required of a magistrate.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking which includes a commitment to complete the required minimum number of sittings annually and, if they fail to do so without an acceptable reason, to resign.

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

Miss Mannix was appointed in February 2024 but has not undertaken any sittings since appointment and has failed to engage with repeated attempts to contact her over an extended period.

Miss Mannix did not respond when invited to make representations as to why she should not be removed from office.

Decision

After careful consideration, the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice agreed with the recommendation to remove Miss Mannix 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