JCIO 19/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Ms Lorraine Edwards JP, of the North and East Hertfordshire Bench, with a formal warning for misconduct.

Facts

Magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking on appointment, agreeing to be circumspect in their conduct and maintain the dignity, standing and good reputation of the magistracy at all times. The Guide to Judicial Conduct 2023 states that judicial office holders should avoid situations which might cast doubt on their impartiality or which might expose them to charges of hypocrisy.

The South-East Conduct Advisory Committee investigated concerns that Ms Edwards had requested the activation of her judicial security fob at a court where she had never sat and had used it to access secure areas and to facilitate a member of the public entering restricted areas, while attending the court in a private capacity.

Ms Edwards’ representations

Ms Edwards accepted that she had used her judicial security fob while attending court in a private capacity to provide support to a witness, and that she had facilitated a member of the public entering restricted areas of the court. She stated that she had acted out of concern for the witness and their family and mistakenly believed that access was authorised based on prior arrangements. She accepted that she had made an error of judgment and expressed remorse.

Nominated committee member’s findings and recommendation

Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023 a nominated committee member found that Ms Edwards had gained access to secure parts of the court for reasons other than to carry out her judicial functions and had also facilitated a member of the public to gain access to secure parts of the court. The nominated committee member found that Ms Edwards’ actions had created a risk to court security and to the integrity of an active Crown Court trial and concluded that her actions amounted to serious misconduct.

In recommending a reprimand, the nominated committee member took into consideration Ms Edwards’ experience, acceptance of responsibility and expressions of remorse and the absence of any previous disciplinary findings.

Decision

After careful consideration, Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed to issue Ms Edwards with the lesser sanction of a formal warning, taking into consideration that, while the potential risk was significant, no actual harm had materialised to the integrity of the trial. 
 

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