JCIO 28/26

   

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 Dr Kate Bates JP of the Merseyside Bench with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

On appointment, magistrates sign an undertaking to complete all essential and compulsory training which may be prescribed by the Lady Chief Justice. Failure to complete such training within the required timescales, without an acceptable reason, may amount to misconduct.

A complaint was made to the North West Conduct Advisory Committee (NWCAC) alleging that Dr Bates had failed to complete an e learning module, which was designated as essential training for crime magistrates, by the requisite deadline. It was further alleged that Dr Bates had not responded to subsequent attempts to contact her by her Deputy Bench Chair regarding the outstanding training.

Dr Bates’ representations

Dr Bates did not provide any representations to the NWCAC in response to the complaint and, at the time the matter was considered, had not completed the required training module.

Nominated committee member’s findings and recommendation

Following an investigation carried out under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member found that the essential training module had remained outstanding for several months, with nationally and locally set deadlines missed. This was despite Dr Bates having been given sufficient time to complete the training module and having received reminders. The nominated committee member also found that Dr Bates had not responded to attempts by her Deputy Bench Chair to contact her about the matter.

The nominated committee member concluded that this failure to complete an essential training module amounted to misconduct. In recommending that Dr Bates receive a sanction of formal advice, the nominated committee member took into account that Dr Bates had completed all other essential training modules.

Decision

After careful consideration, the Lord Chancellor and Mr Justice Keehan agreed to issue Dr Kate Bates JP with formal advice for misconduct. 
 

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