JCIO 30/25

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Miss Linda Hill 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.

The Midlands Conduct Advisory Committee (MCAC) recommended that Miss Hill be removed from office on the basis that she had not met the annual minimum sittings requirement for her role for the three years from April 2022 and that she had not engaged meaningfully with her bench leadership to find a solution.

Miss Hill’s representations

Miss Hill stated that work and personal commitments had affected her ability to undertake sittings. She stated that she had on occasions requested additional sittings but was not allocated any. She felt unsupported and discriminated against.

Decision

After careful consideration of the mitigation offered by Miss Hill, as well as her previous unblemished service since 2007, the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor decided to issue Miss Hill 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