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JCIO 36/26
Date: 07 July 2026
A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:
The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Recorder John Bowers KC with a formal warning for misconduct.
Facts
The Guide to Judicial Conduct requires judicial office-holders to show respect for the law and maintain the reputation and good standing of the judiciary.
In February, Recorder Bowers reported to the JCIO that he had been disqualified from driving for six-months after accruing 12 points on his driver’s licence for four separate driving offences.
With Recorder Bowers’ consent, this matter was considered under the expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023. The expedited process allows the JCIO to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice that formal advice or a formal warning should be issued where the facts are not in dispute, and the conduct is very likely to amount to misconduct warranting one of those outcomes.
Recorder Bowers’ representations
Recorder Bowers stated that nine of the points were for speeding offences where he was just above the speed limit and the final three were for going across a red light by 1.5 seconds. Recorder Bowers stated that in all the speeding cases, he had been following the speed of the traffic.
He was profoundly sorry for being disqualified and realised that as a judge he should have been more careful.
Decision
After careful consideration, the Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor agreed with the JCIO’s recommendation to issue Recorder Bowers with a formal warning.
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
